Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2012 10:48AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices and Persistent Slabs.

Jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

Weather Forecast

Thursday: light snowfall - light to moderate southeast winds - freezing level @ 900m Friday: light snowfall - light southwest winds - freezing level @ 800m Saturday: clearing skies - light and variable winds - freezing level @ 600m

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche observations have been limited. There was, however, point release sluffing to size 2 in steep terrain in the north of the region on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of low density snow sit over a variety of old surfaces that include widely distributed hard wind slabs, or melt freeze crusts that exist on most aspects below 1000m and on solar aspects as high as 1600m. In exposed areas the newer low density snow has been shifted into deeper pockets of soft wind slab. The mid February surface hoar, down around 60cm, is not widespread and is gaining strength, but should still be on your radar in steeper, unsupported terrain at treeline and below. Cornices in the area are also reported to be very large and primed for triggering.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recently formed windslabs may exist on lee slopes adding to a strengthening hard wind slab problem that developed last week.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Cornices

Large cornices exist in alpine terrain. A failure could be destructive by itself, and could also trigger an avalanche on the slope below.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 5

Persistent Slabs

The persistent weak layer that formed in early February is most prominent on unsupported, sheltered slopes at treeline . Although avalanches on this layer have not been reported this week, triggering may still be possible in isolated terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2012 9:00AM