With no or minimal overnight freezing, warm temperatures, sunshine and light rain will continue to destabilize the snowpack on all aspects and all elevations. Thoughtful terrain choices and conservative decision-making are essential for safe travel in the backcountry.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast Uncertainty is due to the fact that cornice falls are particularly difficult to forecast.
Weather Forecast
An upper ridge builds in from the west and moves across the province on Monday. This will be associated with drying and clearing conditions before the next storm system moving in for Wednesday.Â
SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods. No precipitation. 15-25 km/h westerly winds. Low alpine temperature +5 C with freezing level around 2600 m.
MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated showers. 1-3 mm. 20-30 km/h westerly winds. High alpine temperature +4 C with freezing level around 2400 m.
TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 2-4 cm. 10-20 km/h easterly winds. High alpine temperature -2 C with freezing level around 2000 m.
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 1-2 cm. 20-30 km/h southwesterly winds. High alpine temperature -2 C with freezing level around 2000 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity have been reported on Saturday.
Remember that a lack of reported avalanches does not necessarily mean that there is a lack of avalanche activity. If you are out in the backcountry, and have photos, conditions updates, or even just good vibes to share, consider making a post on the Mountain Information Network.Â
Snowpack Summary
Possible cold, dry snow and thin isolated windslabs on shady slopes in the alpine. Refrozen crust on all aspects into the low alpine, softening in the afternoon at all elevations, and on steep, sunny slopes. Recent warm temperatures, sun, and rain have made the top 10-40 cm of the snowpack moist.Â
Below 1700 m, the snowpack has been reported as being moist top to bottom, and becoming isothermal.
Terrain and Travel
- Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, it is raining, or solar radiation is strong.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
Problems
Loose Wet
Wtih no overnight freezing forecasted, the surface snow will not refreeze except maybe at very high elevations. The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become. Especially avoid steep slopes when they are baking in the sun.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large at this time of the year and warm temperatures may cause them to become weak. Cornice failures are dangerous on their own, but also have the potential to trigger larger avalanches on the slopes below.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 28th, 2022 3:00PM
