Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Continue to minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain and avoid overhead hazard until cooler weather arrives.
Human-triggered loose wet avalanches remain likely on steep solar slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Monday. However, reports are limited.
Through the weekend wet avalanche activity was observed up to size 2.5. Steep rocky terrain and direct solar slopes are the most impacted. Avalanches observed did not step down to the buried weak layers.
Snowpack Summary
High freezing levels overnight will result in no refreeze or a weak re-freeze of the snow surface overnight. Where there is a re-freeze daytime heating will soften the crust making surfaces moist. As a result, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly throughout the day.
30 to 50 cm of moist snow overlies a variety of layers including a thin sun crust on south aspects.
Two weak layers of surface hoar, facets and a crust exist, buried 60 to 120 cm deep. While these have not produced recent avalanche activity concern remains about the possibility of step down avalanches.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C with freezing levels falling from 2500 to 1700m by morning.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing levels fluctuate between 1700 and 2000m throughout the day.
Thursday
Cloudy with 1 to 8 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing levels rise from 1300 to 1800m.
Friday
Cloudy with 1 to 8 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing levels rise 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Minimize overhead exposure; avalanches triggered by warming or cornice fall may be large and destructive.
- Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Problems
Loose Wet
Where the upper snowpack remains moist wet loose avalanches will be reactive to human triggering in steep terrain. Be especially cautious on slopes seeing direct sun and near rock outcrops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Concern still exists for the possibility of natural avalanches on this layer as warm temperatures persist and moisture penetrates deeper into the snowpack. If this layer is triggered it will result in large destructive avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2024 4:00PM
