Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2021–Mar 18th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Coast.

A multi-day storm starts impacting the region Thursday. Rain will switch to snow and new slabs will begin to form.

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, 30 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 2 C, freezing level 1900 m.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with rain switching to snow, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 40 to 60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -1 C, freezing level dropping to 1200 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 20 to 40 cm, 40 to 60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 1000 m.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 10 to 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -1 C, freezing level 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received any reports of avalanche activity for the past few days. Avalanche activity is expected to quickly increase in the coming days as a multi-day storm impacts the region.

Snowpack Summary

Rain is expected to fall to the mountain tops wetting the snow surface everywhere, which will quickly switch to snow above around 1200 m on Thursday. Above the snow-rain line, wind slabs are expected to form in exposed terrain and storm slabs may form in sheltered terrain. The wind will be strong from the south, so wind slabs will dominate in leeward terrain features near ridges on northerly aspects. Expect storm slabs to be reactive once sufficient snow accumulates. Along ridgelines, cornices are large and always have the potential of failing or being triggered from the weight of a human.

Terrain and Travel

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.