Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada TRettie, Avalanche Canada

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Avoid avalanche terrain at treeline and above. Give the storm snow time to bond to the underlying surfaces.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: stormy with 10 to 20 cm of new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels falling to 1300 m. 

Tuesday: stormy with 10 to 25 cm of new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1700 m.

Wednesday: a mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light westerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.

Thursday: cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1700 m.

Avalanche Summary

We suspect rider triggerable wind and storm slabs will be found throughout the region on Tuesday.

Over the past few days several skier triggered storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 have been reported. These avalanches have all been at treeline and generally on north aspects.

Snowpack Summary

New wind and storm slabs will likely form throughout the day on Tuesday. Wind slabs will generally be found on north and east aspects. Moist snow could be observed below treeline.

A new surface hoar/crust layer has recently been buried. In the southern half of the region a crust from earlier this month exists on all aspects and elevations down up to 50cm. 

The late February layer is down 70cm on average. It consists of surface hoar crystals in shady, wind-sheltered areas around treeline and a crust on solar aspects.

Several other persistent weak layers from February and January can be found in the upper and mid snowpack.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

New storm and wind slabs will likely form throughout the day on Tuesday. These slabs could be larger and more reactive on lee features on North and East aspects. At lower elevations precipitation could fall as rain resulting in wet loose avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2022 4:00PM