Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 9th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Evaluate slopes as you travel, looking for signs of instability.
Continue to minimize exposure to large open slopes, uncertainty exists over the reactivity of buried weak layers.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in the last 2 days.
Recent reports from this region have been limited to small slab avalanches, up to size 1.5. Neighboring regions have observed ongoing large avalanche activity on the buried weak layer of facets over a crust. Although not as large or likely in this region, triggering persistent slabs is still a concern as this layer is present.
Snowpack Summary
Surface conditions include sun crusts on south facing slopes, wind-affected snow, and small amounts of settling snow.
A widespread crust that formed in early February is now buried 40-90 cm deep, with a weak layer of facets above it. In neighboring regions, this layer has produced many large avalanches over the past week.
The snowpack below this crust is strong and well bonded.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 30-50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level remains around 1000 m overnight.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. Southwest winds ease over the day from 50 km/h to 20 km/h by afternoon. Freezing levels peak around 1500 m, treeline temperature -2 °C.
Monday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20-30 km/h southerly ridgetop wind. Freezing levels around 1500 m, treeline temperature -2 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20-40 km/h southerly ridgetop wind. Freezing levels around 1500 m, treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- This avalanche problem is difficult to trigger but if so, consequences are serious.
- Choose slopes that are well supported and have limited consequence.
- Avoid rock outcroppings, convexities, and anywhere the snowpack is thin and/or variable.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A layer of facets on a crust is producing large and destructive avalanches across the province. In this region, it is buried 40-90 cm deep and potentially triggerable on steep slopes at treeline and above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 10th, 2024 5:00PM
