Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 28th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.
mconlan,
Avalanche Canada
Newly formed slabs could be touchy to riders.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Thursday saw widespread small (size 1) storm slab and loose avalanches in alpine terrain.
Looking forward, riders could trigger storm slabs within the recent snow. They could be particularly reactive on steep northerly terrain at higher elevations. Loose wet activity may also become reactive during the heat of the day on sun-exposed slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Around 10 to 25 cm of snow fell on Thursday above 1000 m and another 5 to 15 cm is possible by the end of Friday. All this new snow sits on surface hoar crystals that overly faceted or wind affect snow on northerly alpine terrain or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere. Thicker deposits may be found in lee terrain features near ridgetop. Sun-exposed slopes could moisten with daytime heating, particularly if the skies clear.
A widespread crust that formed in early February is buried anywhere from 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a weak layer of faceted grains above it that are slowly strengthening. This layer is currently dormant.
The remainder of the snowpack is settled.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Sunday
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Newly formed storm slabs may not bond will to underlying layers, including weak surface hoar or facets on northerly terrain, or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere. Deeper deposits may be found in lee terrain features near ridges.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose activity is possible on sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day, particularly if the skies clear.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 29th, 2024 4:00PM
