Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 24th, 2023 11:30AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for fresh wind slabs forming from easterly winds.
Keep an eye on snow surface conditions throughout the day - brief periods of strong sunshine can quickly increase reactivity on sun affected slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Small recent wind slabs have been reported, in east facing terrain features. In sheltered terrain features, reports have noted sluffing of loose dry snow.
Check out these MINS for recent conditions, from 10 Mile Valley and near Glenburnie.
Snowpack Summary
Around 10 cm of fresh storm snow fell on Friday. This falls over a crust at low elevations and on sun affected slopes to ridgeline. Below, 30-50 cm of settling snow from last weekend's storm was heavily redistributed by strong westerly winds into deeper deposits on east facing slopes.
A crust exists 30-80 cm deep. Recent test results have shown this layer is mostly bonding well to the snow above, however there is potential for avalanche activity to occur on this layer where the bond is weaker - in thin and shallow snowpack areas.
The lower snowpack is dense and bonded, with some crust layers found throughout.
Weather Summary
Friday Night: Cloudy. Snowfall tapers off before midnight, delivering up to 3 cm. East/northeast winds up to 60 km/hr.
Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud, clearing in the late afternoon with trace amounts of snow possible. Winds ease to northerlies, 30-40 km/hr. Freezing levels 500 m. Alpine high of 0 °C.
Sunday: Clear skies to start the day, with increasing cloud. Isolated flurries possible. Southeast winds, 30-50 km/hr. Freezing levels 500 m. Alpine high of -1 °C.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries possible. East/southeast winds, 30-50 km/hr. Freezing levels 400 m. Alpine high of -3 °C.
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries possible. Northeast winds, 30-50 km/hr. Freezing levels 300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind loaded features can be found throughout the alpine and treeline. Watch for reactivity where fresh wind slabs are forming from new snow and easterly winds, think ridgelines on south and west facing slopes.
Older and larger wind slabs can be found on east facing slopes. While are more stubborn to human triggers, they may be reactive in isolated, unsupported features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 25th, 2023 11:30AM
