Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 9th, 2019 3:30PM

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

Avalanche Canada istorm, Avalanche Canada

Low danger doesn't mean no danger; use normal caution and standard safety practices.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: No precipitation. Light westerly winds.SUNDAY: Dry with a mix of sun and cloud in the morning becoming sunny. Daytime treeline temperatures around -5C. Westerly winds increasing to moderate or strong in the afternoon.MONDAY: Dry and sunny. Daytime treeline temperatures around -3 C. Moderate southwesterly winds.TUESDAY:  Cloudy with light snow in the afternoon but only a few centimetres accumulation. Light southwest wind. Treeline temperatures around -3 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Friday. Small loose wet avalanches are likely on south-facing slopes. Small dry loose avalanches are likely on steep terrain elsewhere. Slab avalanches are likely to be confined to extreme terrain features under current conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Light new snow amounts have buried a mix of hard and soft wind slabs in open alpine terrain as well as pockets of soft snow in sheltered and shaded areas. The new snow has also buried widespread sun crusts of varying thickness on south-facing slopes.The upper- and mid-pack is slowly weakening with cold temperatures and faceting. That means it's transforming into a "single layer" of more sugary faceted grains with various hardness. It's also progressively reducing the properties of an overlying slab above these weak layers and diminishing concern for their potential to produce avalanches.There were three layers of surface hoar within the top 100cm of the snowpack; however, they're disappearing and becoming less of a concern. Where they still exist, these layers are most likely to be found between 1600 and 1900 m.The lower snowpack is maintaining strength in deeper snowpack areas but I doubt that's the case in shallow areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Small wind slabs are confined to aggressive terrain in exposed areas.
Use caution on steep, wind-loaded slopes.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 10th, 2019 3:00PM