Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 21st, 2021 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada shorton, Avalanche Canada

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Heightened avalanche conditions may exist on steep open slopes that have been loaded by the wind.

 

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

Convective flurries will bring 10-30 cm across the region by Monday afternoon.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Steady flurries with 5-15 cm of new snow, 40-50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures drop to -7 C.

MONDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of snow across most of the region and some localized heavier flurries, 30-40 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -6 C.

TUESDAY: Sunny, light west wind, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with light flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow, 30-40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -4 C.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity over the past week has been limited to small dry loose sluffs and small wet loose avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. On Monday there could be sufficient snow to form wind slabs on some steep open slopes.

Snowpack Summary

A cold front crossing the region will bring 10-15 cm of new snow across the region, with some localized flurries bringing up to 30 cm. This adds to about 10 cm of snow from the past few days which sits above a widespread melt-freeze crust, with the exception of high elevation northerly aspects where the snow sits above a small surface hoar layer. Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer from late January is buried around 80 to 150 cm and is composed of a combination of surface hoar, facets, and crusts. We haven't received a report of avalanche activity on this layer since late February and the likelihood of triggering this layer is low.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

On Monday there could be sufficient snow to form wind slabs on some steep open slopes due to the combination of localized flurries and gusty southwest wind.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2021 4:00PM