Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2016 8:40AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

triley, Avalanche Canada

South Columbia.

If you have been out in the mountains, please consider reporting your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Freezing level dropping to valley bottoms overnight. 5-10 cm of new snow combined with light winds overnight. Overcast with light precipitation on Tuesday combined with light winds and freezing levels rising up to 1500 metres. Chance of broken or scattered cloud on Wednesday with a good overnight freeze. The next pulse of stormy weather moving into the region on Wednesday night. Warm, wet, and windy on Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday we received reports of natural storm slab avalanches up to size 2.0 in the Monashees and the Selkirks. Natural avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on Saturday. Skier accidental, skier remote triggered, and natural avalanches up to size 2.5 continued to be reported on Friday. Most of these avalanches were releasing in the storm snow, or at the storm snow/surface hoar interface.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow up to 1800 metres is expected to re-freeze overnight and develop a crust up to at least 1600 metres on all aspects. Some reports from the Monashees of a thin melt-freeze crust that has developed within the storm snow that has been reactive up to size 2.0 on Sunday. Variable amounts of new snow and wind have continued to develop storm slabs 60-80 cm thick that are bonding poorly to a crust on previously sun-exposed slopes and surface hoar (February 27th) on shady and sheltered slopes. The surface hoar and/or crust layer buried February 10 is likely down over a metre. This layer has become less likely to trigger, but continues to be a concern for commercial operations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may be lingering where the recent storm snow was transported into deep pockets in the lee of southerly winds.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

The February 27th surface hoar and sun crust combination may continue to be triggered by large loads like cornice falls or wind slab avalanches in motion.

Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2016 2:00PM