Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 16th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
BF,
Avalanche Canada
Solar and human-triggered avalanches are still very likely.
Sunday will be the peak of this week's warming event.
Through these fluctuating conditions, we will list the highest expected rating of the day.
Best to be patient and avoid avalanche terrain, conditions are set to improve dramatically next week.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Continuing widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3.5 at all aspects and elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Moist snow up to 2600m on all aspects and as high as 3000m on solar aspects. Crusts forming overnight depending on temperatures overnight and the possibility of an inversion. Only the highest north aspects will have dry snow. 40-90 cm of settled snow overlies weaker facets above the Feb 3 crust interface, up to at least 2500 m. The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets. Deeper snowpack areas (west of the divide) are more settled and dense.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night: Alp temps: Low 3 °C.Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom. Possible temperature inversion.
Sunday: Height of our warming event. Generally sunny, warm temps with freezing level reaching 3000m+ with light winds.
Monday/Tuesday: Cooler than Sunday with clear skies with light to moderate winds from the west, freezing levels ~2100m
For more details on the weather, click here.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Extra caution for areas experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.
- The likelihood of deep persistent slab avalanches will increase with each day of warm weather.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
40-90cm of settled snow and soft slab overlies weak facets on the Feb 3 interface, which is a crust in most areas. Many natural, human, and explosive-triggered avalanches have occurred on this layer in the past week, and the likelihood of avalanches will increase with high freezing levels and sun
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Many recent avalanches have stepped down to the weak facet and depth hoar layers near the base of the snowpack resulting in large avalanches. This seems to be most common in thin, steep, rocky terrain in the alpine.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
The sun's effect and overall higher freezing levels will be more pronounced on Sunday as we reach the peak of our current warming event. The likelihood of wet loose avalanches will increase as the day goes on, especially on solar aspects and from rocky outcrops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 17th, 2024 4:00PM
