Avalanche forecast

Glacier

Mar 23 – 24, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are still possible and if the sun comes out, watch for signs of instability.

Expect conditions to vary greatly with elevation and aspect.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3.5

    Two persistent layers are the main concern in the snowpack. One down ~30cm which, if triggered, could step down to the layer deeper in the snowpack. In areas with a robust crust, this is less likely of a concern.

Snowpack Summary

New snow buried a crust found on most aspects and elevations, except in the alpine on polar slopes. Rain created a crust below treeline, which will freeze & thaw with diurnal temperature fluctuations.

A weak layer formed on March 9th is down ~30cm. It has been preserved on N aspects at treeline and above.

The Feb 03 crust is down 80-140 cm and a weak layer of loose snow sits above it.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has decreased with cooler temperatures.

A widespread natural avalanche cycle of size 3-3.5 occurred last week. These wet avalanches failed within the moist upper snowpack and stepped down to the persistent weak layer (over 1m deep).

A field team investigated a natural, size 3 avalanche that occurred on Mar 18th, on a N aspect at tree-line. The failure plane was down ~120 cm on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer.

Weather Summary

A ridge of high pressure moves inland over the next few days & transitions to a north westerly flow on Tues.

Tonight: Clear, Alp Low: -12, Light NE winds, Freezing level (fz): Valley Bottom

Sun: Sunny, Alp High: -6, Light NE winds, fz level: 1500 m

Mon: Sunny w/ cloudy periods, Alp High: -7, Light W winds. Fz level 1400m

Tues: Cloudy/sunny periods, Alp High: -5, Light winds, fz level 1600m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Remember that the snowpack will be significantly different at higher elevations than lower down.

Regions covered