Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 16th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
Use caution in wind loaded areas. Minimize your exposure to steep slopes facing the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, a skier accidental size 2.5 wind slab avalanche was reported. The group triggered the avalanche in a 2000 m start zone that had been reverse-loaded by northeast winds earlier in the week.
On Tuesday and Wednesday explosive control in the region triggered a few wind slab avalanches to size 2.5. A natural, size 2.5, cornice triggered windslab avalanche was observed in the alpine.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
+20 cm of storm snow falling earlier in the week and southwest winds have formed wind slabs in lees at alpine and treeline. This sits above hard, wind-affected snow in open areas and a sun crust on solar slopes. Below 1800 m the surface is covered by a refrozen rain crust.
A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep. It has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region, however, professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming an active problem.
The mid to lower snowpack is well-bonded. Currently, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with clear periods. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Wind light southwest.
Friday
Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 1800 meters.
Saturday
Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 2000 meters.
Sunday
Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 1900meters.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong southwest winds have built wind slabs in alpine and treeline lees. Although natural avalanche activity has tappered off wind slabs remain possible to human trigger.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
The full impact of the march sun is slowly weakening cornices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 17th, 2023 4:00PM
