Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 12th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
jleblanc,
Avalanche Canada
Persistent slabs remain prime for human-triggered avalanches, especially at treeline.
Choose low-consequence terrain and avoid shallow areas where triggering is more likely.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Large avalanches continue to surprise skiers across the region. On Monday, large slabs (up to size 2) were remotely triggered from a distance, indicating a touchy snowpack over a persistent weak layer. Many groups recently traveling in the backcountry have also reported signs of instability like whumpfing and shooting cracks.
For more information, click on the photos below.
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find up to 25 cm of settled snow in wind-sheltered and shady areas. This snow covers wind-affected surfaces or a crust on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations. A layer of weak, faceted crystals over a crust, or surface hoar, is the primary layer of concern, buried around 40 to 80 cm.
A sun crust may have formed on the surface on steep south and west-facing slopes, and snow will be heavier and possibly moist or crusty at lower elevations.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 2 cm of new snow expected. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -4 °C. Freezing level returning to valley bottom.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 2 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around +2 °C. Freezing level around 1800 m.
Friday
Cloudy with no precipitation, 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around +5 °C. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
- Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Several recent avalanches in the region continue to be triggered on a layer of buried surface hoar or weak, sugary facets overlying a crust. Avoid shallow areas where triggering these avalanches is most likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Forecasted winds will continue to develop fresh, reactive slabs in leeward terrain. If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger than expected avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 13th, 2024 4:00PM
