Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 16th, 2015 9:03AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
pgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
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
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 17th, 2015 2:00PM
