Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 25th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada jsmith, Avalanche Canada

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10-20 cm of recent snow and light to moderate southwesterly wind may have formed small wind slabs on lee features below alpine ridgetops.

Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several rider triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported on lee aspects at upper elevations on Friday.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow and light to moderate southwesterly wind may have formed small wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations.

Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust, existing on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. In north facing high alpine terrain the surface snow may have remained cold and dry.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of a number of old crusts and facetted snow that continue to be monitored, particularly in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy / 10 km/h north ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level valley bottom

Sunday

Mostly cloudy / 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level 1200 m

Monday

Sunny / 20 km/h east ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -4 C / Freezing level 1600 m

Tuesday

Sunny / 50 km/h east ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1700 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

10-20 cm of recent snow and light to moderate southwesterly wind may have formed small wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 26th, 2023 4:00PM

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