Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 30th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada jsmith, Avalanche Canada

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30 to 40 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.

Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the recent snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous rider triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on all aspects and elevations near Fernie on Friday.

Here's one example from the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Strong solar radiation has formed a surface crust everywhere except north facing terrian at upper elevations.

30-40 cm of recent snow overlies a crust on all but north facing aspects in the alpine.

A widespread crust with facets above is down 100 to 180 cm. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the places where it may still be possible to trigger this layer with large loads.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7° C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4° C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7° C. Freezing level 3100 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

30 to 40 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Expect the sunshine to trigger wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects at all elevations.

Aspects: North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 31st, 2024 4:00PM

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