Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Mar 12 – 13, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow, strong winds, and rising temperatures are a perfect recipe for avalanches.  Careful route selection will be critical for safe back country travel

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    New snow with strong winds will build new wind slabs

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–4
    New snow will increase the load on already mature cornices, rising temperatures will increase the hazard.

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

The South Coast Inland should see some clearing on Friday with freezing levels going up to 2700m. On Saturday expect 10mm of moisture with freezing levels at around 1700m followed by another 5 to 10mm on Sunday and Monday next week with freezing levels dropping to more normal seasonal values.

Avalanche Summary

A few wet snow avalanches have been reported occurring on solar aspects. Cloudy skies may keep the surface from overnight freezing and  rising teemperatures may increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches and cornice failures.

Snowpack Summary

The recent precipitation is falling on a variety of old snow surfaces that exist throughout the region. Melt-freeze conditions can be found on solar aspects in the alpine, and on all aspects at lower elevations. On high north-facing terrain, you may find stubborn old wind slabs and some surface facets from cold, clear nights, buried around March 5th. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. Cornices , however, may become weak with daytime warming. New storm snow will most likely be quite wet and accompanied by strong SW winds.

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