Date issued

Mar 19, 2018 - 8:00 AM

Valid until

Mar 20, 2018 - 8:00 AM

Prepared by

ian gale

Recent storm snow will be sluffing from steep terrain today.  Use caution in exposed areas where even small avalanches could knock you off your feet.

Regular season
Sunday - March 18, 2018
Alpine

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Monday - March 19, 2018
Alpine

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Tuesday - March 20, 2018
Alpine

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Cloud cover today should reduce the chance of loose wet slides on solar aspects. However if the sun does come out expect the recent 5-10 cm of new snow to become reactive around rocks and trees on steep solar terrain.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Avalanche Summary

Limited natural avalanche activity over the last couple days with overcast skies and low freezing levels. Expect the new 5-10 cm of snow from overnight to be sluffing from steep terrain today. Of note over the last few days are two size 2 low elevation glide crack releases. Previously we've seen loose wet avalanches on steeper solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is generally well settled with 5-10 cm of new snow on the surface. Above treeline this new snow remains dry and unconsolidated burying a previous melt freeze crust that extends up to 2300m on all aspects and to mountain top on solar aspects. Below treeline the upper snowpack contains a series of crusts at or near the surface.

Weather Forecast

Today will be a mostly cloudy day with isolated flurries.  No significant snowfall is forecast for the day but models show potential for convective activity which can produce localized intense flurries.  Ridgetop winds will be Westerly in the 15-25km/hr range and freezing level will reach 1400m.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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