Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 23rd, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
15 to 20 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the recent snow.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Several rider triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 20 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.
A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried 80 to 120 cm down in the South Rockies and up to 200 cm in the Lizard range. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Cloudy with flurries, 3 to 10 cm. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Monday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
- Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Storm Slabs
15 to 20 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Small naturally triggered wet loose avalanches will begin when the recent snow sees the sun for the first time.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is down 80 to 200 cm. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 24th, 2024 4:00PM
