Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 9th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Expect to find fresh wind slabs at higher elevations, but buried weak layers remain the primary concern. The potential for large and destructive avalanches continues.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Previous in the week, large to very large slab avalanches were triggered naturally and by explosives, size 2 to 3.5. Primary concern is for further activity on these buried weak layers, producing large avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
10 cm of new snow is expected by Sunday afternoon. New snow will fall over a variety of weak surfaces - a crust on sun affected slopes, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and wind affected snow in exposed areas.
A widespread crust with weak facets above remains a concerning layer for human triggering. Buried 80-150 cm deep, this layer has produced very large avalanche activity this week.
The snowpack below the crust is generally strong.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 5 cm of snow expected. Freezing levels drop to 1000 m. Southwest winds 30-50 km/h, gusting to 80 km/h.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy during the day with 5 cm of snow. 30-50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Snow continues overnight, 10-20 cm.
Cloudy during the day with another 5-10 cm possible. 30-40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy, 5-15 cm of snow possible. 30-40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
- Avoid being on or under sun exposed slopes.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
- Cornice failures could trigger very large and destructive avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Avoid areas where the snowpack thins, like steep, rocky start zones at treeline and alpine elevations. Weak layers are more easily triggered here.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Winds have picked up and loose snow is available to build fresh and reactive wind slabs. Small wind slabs could step down to deeper weak layers producing very large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 10th, 2024 5:00PM
