Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 16th, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
stephen holeczi,
Avalanche Canada
Avoid all avalanche terrain and the runouts of any avalanche path.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Freezing level to valley bottom Thursday night and a break from the storm. Winds will be in the moderate range. Another significant storm arrived Saturday morning with 30mm expected, alpine winds to 100kmh and freezing levels to 1900-2000m .
Snowpack Summary
30-60cm Thursday and moderate to strong winds have continued to build significant load over midpack facets. The mix of previous rain, warm temperatures, and this new snow is overloading buried storm and windslabs, as well as the deeper facet layers which have woken up.
Avalanche Summary
A historic avalanche cycle is underway, with avalanches up to size 3.5 being widespread. Some are reaching maximal runouts, including onto trails in simple terrain. Avoid all avalanche terrain .
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Several buried weak layers in the middle of the snowpack are being reactive again during this avalanche cycle. Avoid avalanche terrain now.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs up to 1meter deep exists at higher elevations, and in specific wind effected areas near treeline. Expect these to continue growing with additional inputs.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
With all the new snow kicking around gullies and steep terrain will be sluffing over the short term.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 17th, 2017 4:00PM
