Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2015 9:03AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Now that the storm is over, signs of avalanche danger may be less obvious. Touchy wind slabs are lingering. If it's sunny, avoid steep slopes that are getting sun-baked.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

A brief clearing is expected on Tuesday, before a Pacific frontal system pushes ashore late that day. Generally light precipitation is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with the freezing level around 1000 m and winds moderate to strong from the S to SW.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives control on Sunday triggered several very large avalanches near Stewart, failing at ground or on a deeply buried crust. Last week there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle. No naturally triggered avalanches were reported on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 1 m of recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong and variable winds, creating widespread wind slabs. Operators got moderate snowpack test results on storm interfaces on Sunday. Older buried surfaces include wind slabs, hard crusts, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. The mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found, particularly on shallow alpine slopes in the north of the region. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Below treeline, the snow appears to be in a spring melt-freeze cycle.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Up to 1 m of snow has fallen recently and been shifted by variable winds into wind slabs. These could be triggered by the weight of a person.

Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2015 2:00PM