Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 28th, 2022 3:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet.
dboucher,
Avalanche Canada
Despite an overnight refreeze, solars aspects slopes will soften quickly with intense sunshine and warming temperatures. Be particularly cautious on and under steep slopes when they are baking in the sun.
Summary
Confidence
High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure will build in for Tuesday, bringing a sunny and dry day with freezing levels up to 2000 to 2500 metres.Â
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods. No precipitation. 30-40 km/h northerly winds. Low alpine temperature -4 C with freezing level around 1200 m.
TUESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. No precipitation. 10-20 km/h northeasterly winds becoming calm in the afternoon. High alpine temperature +2 C with freezing level around 2000 m.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries. 3-5 cm. 20-30 km/h southwesterly winds. High alpine temperature -1 C with freezing level around 1700 m.
THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. No precipitation. 20-25 km/h northwesterly winds. High alpine temperature -4 C with freezing level around 1600 m.
Avalanche Summary
No significant avalanche activity has been reported on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
The upper snowpack is going through a diurnal melt freeze cycle. Refrozen crust on all aspects as high as 2500 m, softening in the afternoon at all elevations and especially on steep, sunny slopes. Recent warm temperatures, sun, and rain have made the top 20-40 cm of the snowpack moist. At very low elevations, the snowpack may be wet and isothermal, depending on overnight freezing levels.Â
40 to 70 cm below the snow surface, you'll find a frozen sun crust on solar aspects, and weak, feathery surface hoar crystals on shaded aspects. This layer was buried in early March and produced surprising avalanches during the last storm and following warm days. The recent warm weather seems to have helped this layer to bond as no avalanche were reported during the warmest days of the weekend.Â
The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well bonded.
Terrain and Travel
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Problems
Loose Wet
Freezing levels are falling overnight, but the surface snow will soften quickly with the sun and warming temperatures. Paying close attention to how thick and supportive the surface crust is throughout the day will help you avoid wet loose avalanche problem. Also, be cautious on and under steep alpine slopes when they are baking in the sun.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 29th, 2022 3:00PM
