Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 24th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
cgarritty,
Avalanche Canada
Forecast confidence is low due to a lack of field observations. New and reactive wind slabs are expected to exist on a wide range of aspects in higher elevation terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Tuesday night: Clear. Moderate north winds, increasing into the morning.
Wednesday: Sunny, becoming cloudy overnight. Moderate to strong north winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
Thursday: Cloudy with flurries bringing 5-10 cm of new snow, easing overnight. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
Friday: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, increasing overnight. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed on Monday from limited reports.
Recently formed wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggering over the coming days.
Snowpack Summary
Around 10 to 15 cm of snow fell Sunday night in the south of the region with strong, variable winds, likely forming wind slabs in exposed terrain features on all aspects. Wind was the primary driver of new slab formation in the north of the region.
New wind slabs likely sit on a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and on previously wind-affected snow elsewhere. Slabs formed over crust may take a bit longer to stabilize.
A layer of surface hoar crystals is buried around 30 to 60 cm in sheltered areas at and below treeline. Recent observations of this layer are limited.
An early-season layer of faceted grains and a melt-freeze crust can likely be found near the base of the snowpack at high elevations. A large load, such as a large cornice fall, may have potential to trigger it.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow in the south of the region and strong wind throughout the region have likely formed wind slabs in exposed terrain. Recent shifting wind directions mean that new slabs may be found on a wide range of aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of surface hoar crystals is buried around 30 to 60 cm deep in sheltered, shady terrain around treeline. It was reactive to both human and natural triggers last week and there is uncertainty about whether it is still a problem.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 25th, 2020 5:00PM
