Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Mar 21 – 22, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Conditions may change quickly in the spring. Even brief periods of sun can trigger pushy loose wet avalanches or promote destructive cornice falls.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Strong southeast winds have continued to form potentially reactive wind slabs in high elevation lee terrain. Brief periods of sunny weather may also promote loose wet avalanche activity on sun-exposed slopes

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Natural cornice releases remain an ongoing concern for professionals in the region. During the past week, falling cornices have also triggered large avalanches on the slope below.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–6
    A few persistent weaknesses exist in the mid and lower snowpack (see snowpack description). These potentially destructive layers may become reactive with spring warming or with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

On Tuesday expect generally overcast skies with isolated flurries. On Wednesday a Pacific system will bring 5-10cm of new snow to the region. Light flurries are forecast for Thursday. Ridgetop winds will be light on Tuesday, and then become moderate and southeasterly with Wednesday's precipitation. Freezing levels should hover between 1100 and 1200m for the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

In recent days a natural cornice fall triggered a size 3 slab avalanche in the southwest corner of the region. The avalanche occurred on an east aspect in high alpine terrain and stepped down to a few persistent weak layers from January and December. This avalanche demonstrates how a cornice fall can trigger layers that may otherwise be difficult to trigger

Snowpack Summary

In some areas, a dusting of new snow overlies wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain and settled dry (and faceting) powder on shaded and sheltered slopes. Spring conditions have continued to develop. With that, lower elevation and sun-exposed slopes will likely appear moist or refrozen A layer of surface hoar from early March can be found down 50-70cm but only seems to be a problem for the northern half of the region. Professional operators are still tracking two deep weak layers from early-January and early-February which can be found down about 1m or more. These layers have been dormant for a couple weeks but could wake up with substantial warming or a heavy trigger (like a cornice fall). Basal facets exist in most areas and have recently become reactive in the north of the region

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