Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
Very large persistent slab avalanches remain likely to human trigger, especially at treeline and above.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Numerous naturally triggered wet loose avalanches up to size 3 (very large) were reported on sunny aspects at all elevations on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
High freezing levels overnight will result in no overnight re-freeze of the snow surface. As a result, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly throughout the day.
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 40-60 cm in isolated, sheltered areas. A widespread crust with sugary facets above is down 80-200 cm. Both of these layers remain the primary concern for triggering large persistent slab avalanches.
Cornices have become large and looming, and are more likely to fail during periods of warming.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Wednesday
Sunny. 5 to 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 3 cm of snow (above 1400m). 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm of snow(above 1300 m). 5 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is down 80 to 200 cm. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2024 4:00PM
