Date issued

Mar 15, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Valid until

Mar 16, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Prepared by

jonas hoke

Incoming new snow should improve the skiing significantly. Check the bond of this new snow to the previous surfaces carefully before committing to any big terrain.

Regular season
Friday - March 16, 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.

Saturday - March 17, 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.

Sunday - March 18, 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: Storm Slabs

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

Fresh storm slabs may sit on a hard melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and facets on polar aspects, assess the bond at these interfaces carefully before committing to any avalanche start zones.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created storm slabs.

Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet

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

With the freezing level forecast to be as high as 1900m on Friday, this could be a significant problem at lower elevations (particularly on ice climbs).

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Avalanche Problem 3: Persistent Slabs

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

At upper elevations polar aspects still held cold, faceted snow and did not receive either solar triggers or significant snowpack settlement this past week. Steep, unsupported slopes should be treated with due respect.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

Fresh snow with light (gusting moderate) Northerly winds is building fresh storm slabs in exposed areas.  Incoming snow is falling on a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects below 3000m and old facetted wind slabs on polar aspects above 1700m. The weak Feb. 8th interface under the old windslabs may remain a concern on high north aspects.

Weather Forecast

An unusual upper level flow is creating a weather pattern that is unusual and challenging for the weather models to predict.

Friday: Cloudy with snow (up to 15cm). Alpine temps: Low -5 C, High -3 C. Ridge wind light. Freezing level: 1900m.

Saturday: Flurries. (up to 5cm). Alpine temps: Low -7 C, High -3 C. Light ridge wind. Freezing level: 1900m.

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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