Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 25th, 2021 4:04PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
Mark Herbison,
Expect to see wind slab development as winds increase on Friday. Loose dry sluffs are a major concern for those venturing into steep confined terrain features.
Excellent snow quality exists at tree line and above.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy skies on Friday with isolated flurries accumulating 1-2cm of snow. The freezing level will be around 1600m as the valley bottom high will reach +3. Winds will range from 20-50km/hr from the SW. Additional snow and increasing winds are forecasted for the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
15-40 cm of snow has fallen within the last week with variable SW-NW winds. This new snow sits over a sun crust (up to ridge tops) on solar aspects, over a temperature crust at lower elevations and over a mix of surfaces on North aspects including facets and spotty surface hoar. Thin snowpack areas are becoming isothermal below treeline.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanche activity observed or reported today other than some small loose dry sluffs out of steep alpine terrain.
Local ski areas were able to explosively trigger cornices up to sz 1.5, which pulled small pockets of wind slab on the slopes below.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for wind slab development along ridge lines as the winds are forecasted to increase on Friday and there is plenty of dry loose snow for transport.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially in steep confined alpine terrain.
- Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
This problem exists in steep alpine terrain, limit your exposure to overhead hazards that could have serious consequence in exposed terrain.
- Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep, confined or exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 26th, 2021 4:00PM
