Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 10th, 2022 4:00PM

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

jonas hoke,

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The avalanche danger will increase into the weekend, with snowfall forecast to begin Friday afternoon, giving a total accumulation of up to 25cm by Sunday.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A frontal system gives moderate snowfall, warming temps, and strong SW wind into the weekend

Tonight: Clear periods, Alpine low -13*C, light SW ridgetop wind

Fri: Flurries turning to snowfall (10cm), High -6*C, moderate SW wind, freezing level (FZL) 1100m

Sat: Flurries (10cm), Low -9*C, High -7*C, strong SW wind, FZL1300m

Sun: Flurries (5cm), FZL 1500m

Snowpack Summary

Incoming snow will cover a variety of surfaces - a crust on steep solar aspects (widespread below 1500m), settled pow in shaded/sheltered areas, and wind effect in the alpine from Northerly switching to SW winds. The Feb 26th interface (small surface hoar or suncrust) lingers down 30-40cm but has not been reactive recently.

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday - there was a near miss in Loop Brook drainage, when a rider remote triggered a size 2.0 slab at ridge top, NE asp, MCR.

A near miss from a cornice fall in MacDonald gully #11.

And, an MCR reporting isolated wind slabs in the Illecillewaet drainage.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Fresh slabs may build through out the day with incoming SW winds.

Previous pockets of wind slab were reactive recently where loaded on to a sun crust by Northerly winds.

  • Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small slab avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Storm slabs will likely begin to form Friday evening, becoming the primary problem by Saturday.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 11th, 2022 4:00PM