Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 25th, 2024 2:30PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Wet Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada bwillard, Avalanche Canada

Email

👉 CAUTION - BULLETIN VALID FOR TUESDAY MARCH 26 AND WEDNESDAY MARCH 27 👈

Tuesday will be a great day to enjoy the snow in the mountains before the heavy rainfall forecast for Wednesday. Be sure to take the time to read the bulletin, several avalanche problems are present.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several size 1 to 2 avalanches were reported on south-facing slopes, including a size 2 avalanche accidentally triggered by a skier on a south-facing slope with a crown around 50 cm thick.

If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

We find great spatial variability in the mountains due to the strong to extreme winds that have accompanied recent storms.

At mid-mountain, in areas sheltered from the wind, 50 to 60 cm of snow rests on a thin friable crust. Beneath this crust, a further 20 cm or so of snow covered the very firm crust of March 10. Solar aspect have been affected by the sun.

The middle of the snowpack is very well consolidated down to the ground. The average snow depth is around 130-160 cm.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure stationed directly over the Chic-Chocs will give us another beautiful day in the mountains on Tuesday. Things will start to turn nasty from Tuesday evening, with freezing rain turning to rain.

Monday evening and night: Clear. Light southerly wind, 15 to 20 km/h. Low -10.

Tuesday: Sunny. Wind southeast, 30 to 40 km/h. Maximum +5. Mountain inversion. 10 mm of freezing rain expected overnight.

Wednesday: Rain. 10 mm. Strong south-westerly wind, 60 to 80 km/h. High +7. Mountain inversion. Freezing level at 3,000 m.

Thursday: Cloudy. Moderate southwesterly wind, 20 to 40 km/h. High +8. Freezing level at 2,000 m.

For more details, check out the most recent alpine weather forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

The wind slabs rest on a thin solar crust at a depth of around 50 cm, on which facet grains have developed. This configuration makes the wind slabs still sensitive to triggering.

Be particularly careful near couloir start zones and alpine bowls, under convexities and in cross-loaded areas of the alpine and treeline.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wet Slabs

An icon showing Wet Slabs

Warm temperatures and precipitation in the form of rain could trigger wet slabs in places where a wind slab problems existed.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Solar radiation, warm temperatures and rain could produce small avalanches of loose wet snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 27th, 2024 3:00PM

Login