Date issued

Mar 11, 2018 - 4:01 PM

Valid until

Mar 12, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Prepared by

jonas hoke

Spring has sprung.

An early start, and avoidance during the heat of the day is essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain right now.

Regular season
Sunday - March 11, 2018
Alpine

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.

Treeline

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.

Below Treeline

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.

Monday - March 12, 2018
Alpine

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.

Treeline

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.

Below Treeline

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.

Tuesday - March 13, 2018
Alpine

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.

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.

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?

Late afternoon problem in steep, solar rocky terrain. Also found to be entraining the surrounding, facetted snowpack and will build up volume and speed quickly.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.

Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs

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

As daily temperature swings push further and further in to  the upper snowpack, slab avalanches may occur at several interfaces within the facetted and structurally weak mid and lower snowpack.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Travel early before the heat of the day melts surface crusts, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.
  • Be wary of large slopes that did not previously avalanche.

Avalanche Summary

A loose wet natural avalanche cycle to size 2.0 was observed on a road patrol in the Maligne area on Sunday.  Avalanche control at Marmot Basin on Saturday produced a size 2.0 cornice failure and one size 2.0 windslab avalanche. Report of an avalanche involvement on Kitty Hawk Satruday. Report of an avalanche on Polar Circus Friday.

Snowpack Summary

A melt freeze cycle is in progress at treeline and below. Expect moist surface snow and loose wet avalanches on solar aspects in the afternoon. In open areas in the alpine and at treeline the upper snowpack is generally wind effected. Previous cold temps have left a weak mid and lower snowpack structure in most locations.

Weather Forecast

An upper level ridge remains over our area until mid-week.

Monday: Sunny, Alpine High 0, Low -3. Ridge winds Light West. Freezing Level 2300m.

Tuesday: Sunny, Alpine High 2, Low -2.  Ridge winds Light SW. Freezing level 2600m.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

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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