Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 20th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
mkoppang,
Avalanche Canada
Monitor and be aware of solar aspects during the day and avoid these areas when the solar radiation is strong or increasing. Conservative choices are a must, dont push it and dont go for it. The current health care system is under enough stress due to COVID19 pandemic.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
The clear sky showed up early on Friday and as a result, stability decreased throughout the day. Its not uncommon to have it move from mod-low in the cool mornings to Considerable-HIGH in the hot afternoons. Pay close attention to quality of freeze overnight as well as aspect you are on or under. Solar aspects are not a good place to be later in the day.
Saturday is looking to be a carbon copy of Friday but a little less cloud is forecast overnight so the quality of the freeze may be better. Freezing levels will be around 2200m with day time highs around -5C. Watch for solar radiation to decrease stability on solar aspects later in the day.
Avalanche Summary
Several loose wet avalanche up to sz 1.5 were observed on solar aspects in the late pm. Field teams were out of the forecast region by 2:30 and we expect more slides occurred following this time.
Snowpack Summary
Crusts can be expected on solar aspects up to the peaks. Last weeks few cm of snow has settled and is overlying a temperature crust on all but true north aspects up to 2000m. The mod pack is generally well settled but the concern for the basal facets still persists. Especially in thinner snowpack areas. Most alpine areas are wind affected and the best chance for good snow will be on a sheltered north aspect.
Terrain and Travel
- Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, travel early on exposed slopes.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.
- Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose wet slides will start in the PM with daytime warming. Steep solar slopes especially in thinner areas will be places to avoid. Any small slide may step down to the deeper basal layers.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs seem to be everywhere. They are most concerning for human triggering in steep, convex and unsupported terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The deep persistent layer is still a concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas. A large cornice trigger could also be enough to weak up this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 21st, 2020 4:00PM
