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 Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Continue to minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain and avoid overhead hazard until cooler weather arrives.
Human-triggered loose wet avalanches remain likely on steep solar slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Sunday. However, observations are currently limited.
Wet avalanche activity has been observed this week up to size 2.5. Avalanches were only observed in the recent storm snow and not reported to have stepped down to the buried weak layers.
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find moist or wet snow at all elevations except the highest north facing terrain. 30 to 50 cm of moist snow overlies a variety of layers including a thin sun crust on south aspects.
Two weak layers of surface hoar, facets and a crust exist, buried 60 to 120 cm deep. While these have not produced recent avalanche activity concern remains about the possibility of step down avalanches.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C with freezing levels remaining above 3000 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C with freezing levels falling to 2500 m over the day.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. 25 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels fall to 2000 m over the day.
Thursday
Cloudy with 1 to 7 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing levels 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Minimize overhead exposure; avalanches triggered by warming or cornice fall may be large and destructive.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
Problems
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches remain reactive to human triggering in steep terrain, particularly on solar aspects or where the upper snowpack is moist. Be especially cautious on sun affected slopes near rock outcrops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Concern still exists for the possibility of natural avalanches on this layer as warm temperatures persist and moisture penetrates deeper into the snowpack. If this layer is triggered it will result in large destructive avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
