Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 2nd, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
Storm slabs continue to be reactive to human triggering at treeline and in the alpine. They may be touchier on leeward slopes due to wind loading. At lower elevations, loose wet avalanches are possible with high freezing levels and a rain soaked snow pack.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Change is in the air with an unstable airmass bringing convective, spring-like weather. Generally, overcast skies and a drying trend will exist Thursday. The ridge should set up by Friday with clearing skies and light northwest winds.
Wednesday Night: 5-10 cm of new snow above 1000 m and rain below. Freezing levels dropping to 1000 m overnight and moderate southwesterly wind at ridgetop.
Thursday: Cloudy skies. Convective flurries up to 10 cm, rain below 1000 m. Light northwest wind and freezing levels 1000 to 1500 m.
Friday: Sunny skies with spring-like (diurnal) freezing levels dropping to 1000 m overnight and rising to 1500 m during the day. Ridgetop wind moderate from the northwest.
Avalanche Summary
No new reports on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a skier triggered storm slab size 1 was reported from a northeast aspect at treeline. Wet loose avalanches were easily triggered below treeline up to size 1.
On Monday, several storm slabs were reported up to size 2. This followed a widespread natural storm slab avalanche cycle on Sunday. Skier-controlled storm slabs were triggering remotely and propagating widely at treeline and below as shown in this MIN report. Natural avalanche activity will likely continue through Wednesday with reactive storm slabs in the alpine and upper treeline and loose wet avalanches below treeline.
Snowpack Summary
30-60 cm of new snow storm snow has become saturated by rain to mountain top on the North Shore range. Upper treeline and areas with alpine may still hold dryer snow and reactive storm slabs. The recent snow sits over a variety of weak surfaces including facets, surface hoar and sun crust, to which it appeared to be bonding poorly initially during the storm.
50-80 cm below the surface, a 30cm thick crust caps the underlying snowpack which is well settled and strong.
Terrain and Travel
- Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs have been reactive to human triggering. Storm slabs are likely to be triggered in steep or convex terrain and in wind loaded areas at treeline and above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Lower elevations host a rain soaked snowpack. Loose wet avalanches are easily triggered from steeper terrain features at treeline and below treeline.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2022 4:00PM
