Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 29th, 2015 10:03AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet and Wet Slabs.

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Warmth is the main driver of avalanche hazard at the moment. Minimize your exposure to large slopes if the snowpack is becoming moist or wet.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Monday: Freezing level starting around 2300m, rising to 2600m by the afternoon. Very light South/Southwest winds at treeline, moderate SW winds at ridgetop. Spring pattern, scattered cloud cover giving way to clearing skies in the afternoon. No significant precipitation expected.Tuesday: Broken skies. Freezing level starting around 2100m, dropping to 1500m by days end. 1 to 5mm of precipitation expected, 1 to 7cm of snow possible. Treeline winds moderate SW/W, ridgetop winds strong SW/W.Wednesday: Scattered cloud cover. Freezing level starting at 1300m, rising to 1800m in the afternoon. No significant precipitation. Light W winds at treeline, moderate NW winds at ridgetop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity reported from Saturday. A wide variety of avalanches were observed Friday: Loose wet avalanches to size 2 on all aspects between 1600m and 2200m, a size 2 wet slab on a E/SE facing feature at 2200m and even a rider triggered storm slab on an E facing feature, likely from early in the day.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy rain fell to ridgetop Saturday before finally turning to snow mid-morning. Now 5 to 25cm of new snow rests on 10 to 40 cm of rain saturated snow. The mid-March crust/facet complex is now down 50-70cm. It's thought that the warmth is helping to strengthen the bond at this interface, but snowpack testing is still producing sudden failures at this interface.

Problems

Loose Wet

New snow that fell over the weekend will be subject to very warm temps and direct solar Monday which will likely drive a widespread loose wet avalanche cycle. Large visor like cornices that overhang many ridge-tops will also be prone to failure.

Do not travel on or below cornices.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of loose wet avalanches could be very serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wet Slabs

As the snowpack is subjected to significant warmth, the bond that fresh wind slabs and storm slabs have with the underlying saturated snow and deeper crust could rapidly decay. Potentially large wet slabs are possible Monday.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2015 2:00PM