Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 24th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is
MM,
Avalanche Canada
Widespread solar crusts are making for challenging skiing on South through West aspects.
Stick to terrain sheltered from direct solar radiation to find the best skiing.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed Thursday or Friday along the highway corridor.
Earlier in the week, numerous afternoon solar triggered avalanches sz 2-2.5, with isolated sz 3's. Some of these avalanches, occurring at treeline and below, have failed at the ground and gouged deep into the snowpack.
Deep persistent slabs are a concern, with a report of a cornice-triggered pocket high on Mt Smart failing to glacial ice, as well as a deep slab on Mt Fidelity.
Snowpack Summary
Widespread crusts on solar aspects and patchy surface hoar in sheltered terrain will be buried by light amounts of new snow (~5cm). Warm temperatures have rapidly settled the snowpack this week. The March 11th surface hoar/crust interface is down 20-40 cm and still reactive in snowpack tests.
Below this is a generally strong snowpack, however the basal weakness of rounding facets/decomposing crust near the ground should factor in to your terrain-use decisions.
Weather Summary
An area of low pressure will bring convective flurries with trace amounts for Saturday as unsettled weather continues through the weekend. On Monday a Northerly flow brings a ridge of high pressure.
Tonight: Trace amounts, Alp low -9*C, light W ridge winds , FZL 800 m
Sat: Trace amounts, Alp high -6, light W ridge winds, FZL 1500m
Sun: Mix of sun & cloud, Alp high -6*C, light NE winds, FZL 1500m
Valid until: Mar 25th, 2023 4:00PM
