Date issued

Mar 18, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Valid until

Mar 19, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Prepared by

Jonas Hoke

Recent storm snow is settling rapidly, but good skiing can still be found at upper elevations.

Regular season
Monday - March 19, 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

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

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

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.

Wednesday - March 21, 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

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.

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
  • Use safe ski cutting techniques before entering ski run.
  • 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?

Watch for this to become reactive if the sun comes out.

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

Avalanche Summary

A road patrol on Sunday confirmed that solar aspects treeline and BTL have been producing loose wet avalanches to size 1 for the past 2-3 days. An isolated large avalanche (size 2.5) was observed to have failed on a steep rock slab, on a NE aspect in the alpine (2500m) in the past 2-3 days, the dimensions of this slab were 300m wide by 100cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of recent dense snow has created storm slabs, these have generally bonded well at treeline and below, but may remain reactive on alpine north aspects. Loose wet slides are a concern below treeline in the late afternoon (particularly if the sun is shining). Facets buried beneath February's multiple windslabs remains a layer worth tracking.

Weather Forecast

Continued light snow late Sunday drying overnight.

Monday. Winds shifting to the NW and increasing.

Mainly cloudy skies with light flurries possible Tuesday through Wednesday. Winds increasing to moderate west .

Freezing levels should remain below 1600m for the period.

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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