Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 26th, 2016 8:49AM

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

Avalanche Canada bcorrigan, Avalanche Canada

New snow on a variety of crusts may be problematic for a few days. Make conservative terrain choices to stay safe.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

The warm warm temperatures and sunny skies of today will be replaced by cooler temperatures and precipitation as a Pacific cold front crosses the coast and moves into the South Coast Inland area. SUNDAY: Freezing level lowers briefly to around 1000 m. overnight, and 15 to 20 cm of snow possible, light southwest winds are forecast. MONDAY: Sunny skies with some cloudy periods, precipitation forecast for early in the morning, clearing up in the afternoon, freezing level climbing to 1700 m, winds from the south. TUESDAY: Freezing level from Monday night will be the low for the next few days at 1200 m. Temperatures will rise close to 2500 m. in the next few days as a ridge of high pressure begins its domination of the weather forecast for the remainder of the week.For more detailed mountain weather information visit: http://www.avalanche.ca/weather

Avalanche Summary

Reports from yesterday tell of new snow sluffing in steep terrain on melt freeze crusts, along with loose-wet avalanches up to size 1.5.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20cm of recent storm snow overlies multiple solar and melt-freeze crusts on all aspects up to 2000 m. Slightly more snow fell in the south of the region where they received 20 to 25 cm of snow. The storm featured moderate south/southwest winds that formed wind slabs on lee slopes around treeline and above. Below the new snow, the snowpack is strong and well-settled throughout with no notable persistent weaknesses, however, cornices are are reported to be huge and fragile.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Moderate SW winds have produced wind slabs in lee terrain, mostly north and northeast at tree line and above.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
Cornices are big and scary right now. Give them a wide berth and a lot of respect !
Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches may move slow, but they have a lot of force and can seriously injure a rider.
Loose wet activity may ramp up quickly as the sun comes out and warms up all the storm snow. Plan your day so that you're off sun exposed slopes by lunch time.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 27th, 2016 2:00PM