Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 27th, 2015 10:34AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wet Slabs, Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Warm temperatures and sunshine are the main drivers of avalanche hazard at the moment. Minimize your exposure to large slopes if the snowpack is becoming moist or wet.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Freezing level hovering near 2000m. Strong W winds at treeline, strong to extreme W winds at ridgetop. Cloud cover decreasing throughout the day. No significant precipitation expected. Sunday: Freezing level staying near 2100m. Strong W winds at treeline, strong to extreme W winds at ridgetop. Partly cloudy skies. No significant precipitation expected.Monday: Freezing level starting near 2000m, rising to 2500m in the afternoon. Moderate SW winds at treeline. Strong W/SW winds at ridgetop. Mostly clear skies. No significant precipitation expected.

Avalanche Summary

No recent observations. In the neighboring Lizard Range Thursday was filled with natural loose wet activity to size 1.5 between 1700m and 2100m on N/NE faces. One natural size 2 wet slab was also recorded on an unknown aspect. On Friday our field team reported continued widespread loose wet avalanches and wet slabs to size 2 that were entraining significant mass as they moved downhill.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing warm temperatures are helping to rapidly settle the snowpack at and below treeline. Ongoing SW winds have likely left lingering wind slabs on north through east facing features. The mid-March rain crust is down 30-60cm and has shown a good bond with snow above. Old persistent weak layers are still intact in the mid and lower snowpack. There is potential for these layers to wake up depending on how much rain and how warm it gets. Recent cornice growth has been reported and these cornices may become fragile with warming.

Problems

Wet Slabs

Continued warm temperatures and potential periods of sunshine could trigger wet slab avalanches, which may move slow but can run surprisingly far.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Expect loose wet slides on steep sun-exposed slopes during the day. These loose wet avalanches could gain considerable mass.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Continued warming and solar radiation could make deeper persistent weaknesses more susceptible to triggering, especially and sun-exposed and thinly snow-covered slopes.

Use caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 28th, 2015 2:00PM