Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 18th, 2012 4:00PM
The alpine rating is Persistent Slabs, Storm Slabs and Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure with light winds and many sunny periods are expected on Monday over all of the interior regions. The airmass is still unsettled, and some areas may develop periods of convective flurries. A Pacific frontal system is forecast to move onto the coast during Monday evening, and should develop cloud and precipitation in the Interior around midnight. Expect winds to increase to moderate from the southwest and precipitation to be moderate to heavy by Tuesday morning. This system is expected to continue during the day and into Wednesday morning.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been reported. Forecast sunshine on Monday may cause another natural avalanche cycle.
Snowpack Summary
Periods of sunshine have caused moist snow on solar aspects up to about 1500 metres. Recent cornice growth has made cornices unstable. The new snow has added to the well consolidated storm slab that overlies weak surfaces that formed early February. This interface, which lies between 1 and 2 metres below the surface, includes a widespread surface hoar instability that, depending on aspect and elevation, may exist in combination with facets or crusts. These persistent weak layers have been reactive all week and remain a concern at all elevations. The weight of new snow, near-surface avalanches, sleds, and skiers may easily trigger these deeper weaknesses creating unexpectedly large and destructive avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 19th, 2012 9:00AM