Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 8th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
astclair,
Avalanche Canada
Lingering wind slabs are the primary concern. Watch for denser drifts near ridge-crests and rollovers and give cornices a wide berth from above and below.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Dry conditions and diurnal cycles for the next few days
Monday night: Partly cloudy, moderate southeast winds, freezing level dropping to 600 m.
Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud, isolated convective flurries with trace accumulations, moderate southeast winds, freezing level rising to 1100 m and dropping to 500 m overnight.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, light variable winds, freezing level rising to 1200 m and dropping to 500 m.
Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud, moderate northwest winds, freezing level rising to 1000 m and dropping to 500 m.
Avalanche Summary
Over the weekend, operators reported numerous soft slabs releasing 20 cm deep in the recent storm snow across aspects from 1700 to 2000 m. Small loose dry sluffs were also observed in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Since Friday, the mountains in the south coast region have seen anywhere from 20-60 cm of snow that fell on a mix of previous surfaces, including a warm crust, wet snow, wind-pressed snow, and settled cold snow. The storm snow has been accompanied by moderate to strong south winds, forming wind slabs on leeward slopes at upper elevations that may remain possible to trigger. Massive cornices exist on ridgelines, which can act as triggers on slopes below.
Below the recent snow, the snowpack consists of a series of rain crusts and settled snow that is well-bonded. See this helpful MIN report from the Hollyburn area.
Terrain and Travel
- Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
- Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong south winds have had ample snow to drift into reactive wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations. Pay attention to the pattern of wind-drifting in the terrain where you are traveling and watch for cracking or changes in snow stiffness. Triggering large wind slabs on specific features remains possible.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices have seen substantial growth since the last storm, and they may release naturally with the impact of solar radiation. Cornice falls can act as triggers on slopes below.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 9th, 2021 4:00PM
