Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 30th, 2023 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada shorton, Avalanche Canada

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Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day on Friday as new snow and wind could form unstable slabs at upper elevations.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Our field team observed small loose wet avalanches out of steep south aspects near Mt Cain on Wednesday. Storm slabs and wind slabs will be the main concern as new snow accumulates.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of new snow will fall on Friday, with deeper deposits in lee terrain. In most areas this snow is falling on moist or crusty snow layers, except shaded terrain above roughly 1600 m where the snow has remained dry over the past week. The middle and lower snowpack are strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Cloudy, scattered flurries starting after midnight with 1 to 3 cm of snow, 40 to 50 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -4 °C with freezing level dropping to 500 m.

Friday

Flurries increasing in intensity in the afternoon, 10 to 20 cm of snow, 50 to 70 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 600 m.

Saturday

Scattered flurries with 5 to 10 cm of snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -3 °C with freezing level around 400 m.

Sunday

Scattered flurries with 5 cm of snow, light wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for avalanche hazard to increase throughout the day.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New slabs will rapidly form on steep wind-loaded slopes on Friday. Pay attention to snowfall rates and to where the wind is depositing snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 31st, 2023 4:00PM