Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 18th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Loose Wet and Cornices.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
⚠️ Avoid All avalanche terrain ⚠️Very warm temperatures and strong solar radiation will likely produce very large natural and human triggered avalanches.
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Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Numerous naturally triggered wet loose and several persistent slab avalanches up to size 3 (very large) were reported on all aspects and elevations on Sunday.
Very large, natural avalanches are expected to continue to occur on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
High freezing levels overnight will result in no overnight re-freeze of the snow surface. As a result, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly throughout the day.
A weak layer of surface hoar is buried 40-60 cm in some areas. A widespread crust with sugary facets above is buried 80-200 cm deep. Both of these layers remain very likely for human triggering.
Cornices have become large and looming, and are more likely to fail during periods of warming.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of intense solar radiation.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets overtop is down 80 to 200 cm. Very large natural and human triggered avalanches occurring on this layer are very likely on Tuesday.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large, looming and will likely trigger very large persistent slab avalanches when they fail.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
