Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 14th, 2016 9:21AM
The alpine rating is Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs and Cornices.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Light snowfall (2-3cm) is expected on Tuesday and early Wednesday. Clouds are expected to scatter throughout the day on Wednesday, while clear skies are forecast for Thursday. Ridgetop winds are expected to be generally light to moderate and southwesterly on Tuesday, switching to northwesterly by Wednesday. Daytime freezing levels should hover around 1200m for the forecast period.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, natural and human triggered wind slab activity to size 1.5 was observed on a variety of aspects at treeline and in the alpine. The avalanches formed in response to new snow and wind on Saturday. In one case, a smaller surface avalanche stepped down and triggered a size 3 slab on a southwest facing slope at treeline. It is unknown what interface the larger slab failed on. As stormy weather tapers-off and a dry ridge gradually builds over the province, solar radiation may become the driver for natural avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
At treeline and in the alpine you're likely to find wind slabs which formed during Saturday's stormy weather. 50-100cm below the surface you'll find a persistent weak layer comprised of surface hoar, facets and/or a thick crust. This layer seems variably reactive. In other words, it's still really touchy in some places while in other spots it's really tough to trigger, and there's not much of a reliable pattern telling us what exact aspects are most suspect. I'd continue to be suspicious of steep, unsupported features at treeline and in the alpine as this layer has the potential for very large avalanches. Below this interface, the snowpack is generally gaining strength. At ridgetop, cornices are huge and potentially unstable.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 15th, 2016 2:00PM