Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2019 4:30PM

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

swerner, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

Reactive wind slabs remain the primary concern at upper elevations. These are easily triggered by the weight of a person.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

Heading into March it feels more like January. The strengthening ridge will bring us another fairly long stretch of cold, dry and clear weather.SATURDAY/ SUNDAY/ MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with alpine temperatures near -15. Moderate ridgetop wind from the northeast through the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, numerous wind slabs up to size 1.5 remained reactive to human triggers on all aspects at treeline and in the alpine. These wind slabs failed on older firm surfaces and facets approximately 20-30 cm down.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow now sits above a plethora of old surfaces including firm wind affected surfaces, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, surface hoar and faceted crystals in sheltered areas. This recent low-density snow may sluff easily from steeper terrain features. Strong northeast wind from earlier this week formed pockets of wind slab in exposed terrain which remain reactive to human triggers especially on southerly aspects. Wind slabs have been failing on a weak faceted layer down 20-50 cm but we're uncertain of how widespread this layer is. The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong northeast winds have formed reactive wind slabs on south-southwesterly slopes and behind terrain features. Pockets of older wind slabs can still be found on all aspects. Loose dry sluffing may occur from steeper terrain features.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes if the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2019 2:00PM