Avalanche Forecast

Northwest Coastal

Date issued

Mar 10, 2018 - 3:09 PM

Valid until

Mar 11, 2018 - 3:00 PM

Prepared by

jsmith

Wind slabs are becoming less likely to human trigger. Steep, convex, and rocky areas are the most likely spots to trigger these lingering wind slabs.

Regular season
Saturday - March 10, 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

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 11, 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

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 12, 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

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?

Wind slabs are becoming less likely to human trigger. Steep, convex, and rocky areas are the most likely spots to trigger these lingering wind slabs.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, wind effected areas where triggering is more likely.
  • Use caution when transitioning into wind affected terrain.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of new snow covers sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar averaging 5 mm, but found up to 20 mm, on sheltered, shady aspects extending into the alpine in some areas. A layer of small surface hoar (5 mm) buried in late February has been reported in isolated locations at treeline and below.

In the upper/mid-pack you will likely find layers of crusts, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface.

Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down there is a crust/surface hoar layer from January.

Sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack would likely be found in colder and dryer parts of the region, such as the far north.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with sunny periods / Light to moderate southeasterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level rising to around 1500 m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southeasterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level rising to around 1800 m.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southeasterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level rising to around 2000 m.

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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