Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 16th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices and Loose Wet.
mconlan,
Avalanche Canada
Cornices are large and could fail under the weight of a human. Wind slabs may linger at high elevations.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, 10 to 20 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -1 C, freezing level 1400 m.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy, 20 to 30 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 0 C, freezing level 1500 m.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with rain switching to snow, accumulation 10 cm, 40 to 60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 0 C, freezing level 1700 m dropping to 1200 m.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 50 to 80 cm, 60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 1000 m.
Avalanche Summary
We haven't received any reports of recent avalanche activity. Looking forward, wind slabs could still be triggered by riders near the mountain tops. Cornices can always be triggered by humans or naturally.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs may linger in steep, lee terrain features near the mountain tops from Sunday's 20 cm of snow with strong south to east wind. Elsewhere, the snow is expected to be a hard melt-freeze crust, which may weaken into moist snow during daytime warming. Along ridgelines, cornices are large and always have the potential of failing or being triggered from the weight of a human.
Terrain and Travel
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
- Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs could linger in steep, lee terrain features at high elevations. Wind slabs aren't a concern where a thick melt-freeze crust is found on the snow surface.
Aspects: North, North East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large and looming. A warming trend will weaken cornices, increasing the likelihood of them releasing naturally or from the weight of a person.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanche activity is only likely when a moist or wet snow surface is found. Resulting avalanches are expected to be small, but use particular caution on very steep slopes with high consequence. If a hard melt-freeze crust persists, the likelihood of avalanche activity is low.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 17th, 2021 4:00PM
