Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 26th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
zryan,
Avalanche Canada
Tune in to the changing conditions of elevation, aspect, and time of day.
Be cautious in wind-affected terrain and avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazard during periods of strong sun.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, a few small (size 1) wet slab avalanches were observed on a North east aspect.
A week ago, two natural size 3 persistent slab avalanches were observed. Both these avalanches ran to valley bottom and are suspected to have released on a weak layer of surface hoar. Two, size 1.5 persistent slab avalanches were remotely triggered by a helicopter on the same layer.
Snowpack Summary
Cool, clear weather has promoted surface faceting and surface hoar growth. A crust exist on all aspects below 1800m and on steep south facing aspects.
At treeline and below, a weak layer of rounding surface hoar is found 20-50 cm down in sheltered terrain. No recent reactivity has been observed.
The lower snowpack presents as consolidated and strong.
Weather Summary
Sunday night
Clear periods. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -4 °C. Ridge wind east 15-35 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind northeast 10-25 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1000 metres.
Tuesday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 3 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 40 km/h from the northeast. Freezing level rises to 2300 metres.
Wednesday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 3 °C. Ridge wind light from the north. Freezing level rises to 1400 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Easterly winds may have redistributed the surface snow into fresh pockets of wind slab in exposed alpine and treeline features. Previously wind was out of the south and older, stubborn wind slabs may still be found on a variety of aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Warm temperatures and strong sun may create wet loose avalanche on steep sun exposed slopes.
Keep in mind, that wet loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 27th, 2023 4:00PM
