Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 15th, 2018 4:36PM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includePockets of lingering lingering wind slabs can still be found on high northerly aspects where the snow has remained dry and cold.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 2-4 cm. Ridge wind light, west. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 800 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, northeast. Alpine Temperature near -3. Freezing level 1600 m.SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind light, east. Alpine Temperature near -4. Freezing level 1600 m.SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation 2-4 cm. Ridge wind light, northwest. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3 was reported over the past several days. These were primarily wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects; however, on Saturday slabs did step down to the mid-February layer (with 50-70 cm crowns) on southerly aspects.On Wednesday there were reports of both skier triggered and natural wind slab releases up to size 1.5, as well as a size 2 natural cornice failure all on on north aspects between 2000 - 2400 m.
Snowpack Summary
A light dusting of new snow now covers a crust on all but high, north and east facing slopes that still have cold dry snow above a well-settled snowpack. Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Pockets of reactive wind slab can still be found in leeward areas at upper elevations.
Watch for wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.Minimize exposure to overhead hazard from cornices, which may become weak with daytime warming.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 16th, 2018 2:00PM