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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2013–Mar 31st, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Danger could INCREASE TO CONSIDERABLE with intense radiation on south and west aspects, especially at treeline and below. Be aware of how the warm weather is changing the snowpack.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A dominating high pressure system with sunny skies, rising freezing levels and light winds continues through to Monday. The pattern will start to deteriorate by Tuesday, showing increased cloud and grey skies with no precipitation. Sunday: Few to scattered high cloud. Alpine temperatures 5.0 and freezing levels 2500 m. Ridgetop winds light from the NW.Monday: Scattered clouds. Alpine temperatures 6.0 and freezing levels rising to 2600 m. Ridgetop winds blowing light from the NW.Tuesday: Cloudy. Alpine temperatures -1.0 and freezing levels falling to 2300 m. Ridgetop winds blowing light from the SW.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 seem to be the consistent theme these days. Be aware of overhead hazards such as cornice fall. It is likely that natural loose wet, or wet slab avalanche activity will continue.

Snowpack Summary

Large cornices loom over many slopes. The upper 10 cm of surface snow has become moist up to 2300 m, and melt-freeze conditions exist. Surface facetting and surface hoar (up to 12 mm) are prevalent on Northerly aspects.A cohesive slab overlies an old crust (down 50-60 cm) which exists up to ridge top. The crust appears to have gained some strength in most places, and some test results are showing resistant planar fracture characteristics. Snowpack variability exists, it is important to dig down and test weak layers before diving into your line.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.