Date issued

Mar 23, 2018 - 4:11 PM

Valid until

Mar 24, 2018 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

matt.mueller

We are expecting a brief, but intense pulse of snow tomorrow afternoon. Watch for changing conditions if this arrives earlier than expected. The hazard levels could get worse quickly if the timing is off.

Regular season
Friday - March 23, 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.

Saturday - March 24, 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.

Sunday - March 25, 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: Wind Slabs

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

isolated windslabs in alpine areas along ridgelines and crossloaded features. Watch for these at the entrances to runs.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices

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

Overhead cornices loom along ridgelines. As daytime temps warm up, these will become weak and have potential to collapse.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Flurries are still adding dribs & drabs of new snow.  Winds picked up last night and today which created new windslabs on N-S aspects. These are mostly in the alpine, but may extend to exposed treeline areas. The deeper crusts are still on our radar as the bond appears to be variable. Dig and assess the crust/surface snow interface if traveling on solar aspects.

Weather Forecast

Another windy night in store. Winds will gust to 65km/hr from the SW. Tomorrow we are expecting 12cm of snow. Mostly in an afternoon pulse, but expect flurries throughout the day. Winds will drop to 10-25km/hr from the SW. 

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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