Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Mar 14 – 15, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger is falling but check out the reactivity of the new storm snow on smaller features before committing to bigger lines.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–5
    Southerly winds have formed fresh wind slabs in lee terrain that are expected to remain reactive to human triggering.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Cornices are large and fragile, they may fail naturally with daytime warming or could break off easily under the weight of a person.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Spring like temperature swings will push the freezing level up to 1500m daily. TUESDAY: partly cloudy with isolate flurries, light west winds. WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy with isolate flurries, light west winds. THRUSDAY: sunny, light to moderate easterly winds.  

Avalanche Summary

Natural and artificially triggered avalanche activity up to size 2.5 was reported from across the region over the weekend.  Cornices remain large and fragile. They have been failing naturally and would likely collapse under the weight of a person.  In the north of the region, a cornice collapse triggered a deep persistent weakness that caused a size 3.5 avalanche on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow and sustained moderate to strong winds have formed fresh storm slabs and loaded lee features.  The upper snowpack sits above a crust that was reported on all aspects and elevations before the weekend.  Isolated pockets of surface hoar were also reported in high north facing terrain that stayed cool prior to the storm.   The mid-pack is generally well settled.  A layer of surface hoar buried in early January can now be found down 1-2 m. In most places it is thought to be capped by a thick widespread crust.

Regions covered