Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2021 8:11AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Wet and Cornices.
jonas hoke,
Ongoing snowfall and wind into the weekend will continue to build on the windslab problem in the alpine.
The snowpack remains isothermal at lower elevations, avoid steep open terrain until a solid surface crust develops.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Flurries through the weekend as the unstable NW flow persists over BC.
Today: Mostly cloudy. Alpine High -5 C. Ridge wind light (gusting strong) SW. Freezing level (Fzl) 1600m.
Tonight: Flurries (10-15cm). Low -8 C. Moderate SW wind. Fzl 900m.
Saturday: Flurries (3-5cm). High -7 C. Mod W wind. Fzl 1300m.
Sunday: Flurries (5-10cm). High -9 C.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temps and rain overnight have kept the snowpack isothermal at lower elevations. Above the rain line, 5cm of new snow is covering a melt-freeze crust into the alpine on solar asp, and surface hoar on dry settled snow on polar aspects. Strong alpine winds have likely blown the new snow into pockets of windslab in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
A couple of loose wet snow avalanches, and one notable size 3 avalanche (in the Park One avalanche path) were triggered in the highway corridor by last nights warm temps and rain. Activity is expected to tapper with cooling temps today.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for pockets of windslab in lee terrain. These will increase in size with ongoing flurries and wind through the weekend.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
This week we have observed several large avalanches in steep, rocky, S-SW facing terrain. While these avalanches were primarily loose wet in nature, some slabs, and even glide slabs were witnessed.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Warm spring temperatures have caused many cornices to fail this week. While most cornice falls have not pulled slabs beneath them, the sheer volume of the cornice itself, produced large destructive avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2021 8:00AM
