Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2018 4:10PM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

South Columbia.

Cool temperatures will keep crusts frozen. There are still some lingering wind slabs on high northerly aspects where the snow remains dry and cold.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5cm / Light north wind / Alpine temperature -6 / Freezing level 1400m FRIDAY: Mix of sun, cloud and scattered flurries / Light south wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 1500m SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy / Light northwest wind / Alpine temperature -6 / Freezing level 1500m

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3 was reported over the past several days. These were primarily wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects; however, on Saturday some did step down to the mid-February layer (with 50-70 cm crowns) on southerly aspects. Large cornice falls were also reported on the weekend that were mostly entraining the surface snow only.

Snowpack Summary

Recent sun and warm temperatures have resulted in moist or wet snow on sunny aspects that is then freezing to form a crust overnight. North and east facing slopes still have cold dry snow that sits on a well-settled snowpack. Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs formed during last week's storm and may remain reactive - their distribution is variable.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Watch for wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2018 2:00PM