Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 22nd, 2015 8:28AM

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

Avalanche Canada Peter, Avalanche Canada

Localized convective snow flurries could lead to variable avalanche hazard throughout the region on Monday.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: Unsettled conditions dominate early this week resulting in scattered convective precipitation, sunny breaks, and gusty winds. Monday: Mostly cloudy with periods of snow (around 3-8 cm). The freezing level is around 1700-1800 m and ridge winds are moderate from the west. Tuesday: Sun and cloud with periods of snow. The freezing level is near 1500 m and winds are light from the SW. Wednesday: Sunny breaks. The freezing level is around 1600-1800 m and winds might increase to moderate from the W.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday there were reports of a few loose wet slides up to size 1.5. Numerous natural and rider triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported Friday as moist storm snow slid on the robust mid-March crust.

Snowpack Summary

An average of 30-50 cm of moist new snow now sits on the mid-March crust, which is 10-15 cm thick. Wind loaded features may have as much as 60 cm on the crust. Recent reports suggest that the overlying snow is bonding well to the crust. During the heat of the afternoon, the snow surface has been reported to be moist or wet at all elevations on solar aspects and up to 2000m on north aspects. At many elevations, melt-freeze cycles are occurring with a weak surface crust forming overnight and then breaking down during the afternoon. Older deeply buried persistent weak layers still exist in the snowpack but are no longer expected to be reactive.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs may have formed in lee and cross-loaded terrain from recent snowfall and moderate W-SW winds. These could grow this week with unsettled weather.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Expect moist surface snow to sluff out of steep terrain during sunny breaks or as the temperature rises during the day.
Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 23rd, 2015 2:00PM