Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2014 8:44AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

esharp, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Freezing levels may rise higher than forecast. Where rain falls it will saturate the upper snowpack and cause loose wet and wet slab avalanches.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: A series of fronts is sliding down the BC coast. The warm front should pass over the South Coast on Saturday, followed by the cold front Sunday morning. Expect up to 30cm of snow at upper elevations before conditions dry out briefly on Monday.Tonight and Saturday: Heavy snow / Moderate to strong SW winds / Freezing levels 1500mSunday: Heavy snow / Moderate to strong SW winds / Freezing levels 1700mMonday: Flurries / Light W to NW winds / Freezing levels 1300m.

Avalanche Summary

A large natural cycle of loose wet avalanches up to size 3 was observed in the Coquihalla area Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Coquihalla and south: Strong southerly winds have redistributed some of the new snow and formed thick wind slabs in exposed lee and cross-loaded terrain. Up to 100 cm of storm snow has fallen in the past few days. This new snow may feel upside down due to warming temperatures later in the storm, and it appears to be bonding poorly to the early March melt-freeze crust. The mid February weak layer of crusts and facets, now down over 200 cm deep, has been reported to be rounding and bonding.Duffey Lake and north: New dense wind slabs are likely in exposed NW-E facing terrain and cross-loaded features. The early March melt-freeze crust can be found down 40-60 cm everywhere except high north aspects. The mid Feb weak layer is generally now found down 70-120 cm. Recent snowpack tests continue to give popping shears where this layer is less than 100 cm deep. Deeply buried weak layers of facets and depth hoar remain a concern on high alpine slopes with thin or variable snow cover.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Forecast heavy precipitation will continue to to load the melt-freeze crust buried in early March. Rain at lower elevations will saturate the upper snowpack.

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs are a greater concern in northern sections where old weak layers can be found in the upper meter of the snow pack. New loading from snow and wind, or a smaller avalanche could be enough to produce a very large avalanche.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2014 2:00PM