Avalanche Forecast

South Coast

Date issued

Mar 14, 2018 - 4:34 PM

Valid until

Mar 15, 2018 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

cgarritty

Avalanche problems should be limited to elevations that received new snow. Sunshine and warming will destabilize this snow on Thursday. Keep your guard up to prevent a small avalanche from ruining your day.

Regular season
Thursday - March 15, 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.

Friday - March 16, 2018
Alpine

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.

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 17, 2018
Alpine

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.

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?

A final pulse of snow and wind has been building up new storm slabs in the alpine. Aside from slab problems, expect small loose wet avalanches to release either naturally or with human triggering on steeper, sun-exposed slopes.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be careful around wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. New snow and wind may have formed touchy slabs.
  • Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Avalanche Summary

No recent notable avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

After a period of light rain, new snow has begun to accumulate on the surface. Up to 15 cm of new snow can be expected in the alpine and the depth and reactivity of new storm slabs will likely increase with elevation. The new snow is accumulating on a variable surface of wet snow and crust.

Below the surface, the overall snowpack is well settled and strong. New cornices formed and old ones grew more overhanging with the snowfall at the end of last week. Cornices become more unstable as the temperature rises and as they are loaded by rain and new snow.

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Mainly sunny. Light northeast winds. Freezing level to 1400 metres with alpine high temperatures around -1.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light variable winds. Freezing level to 1500 metres with alpine high temperatures around 0.

Saturday: Mainly cloudy with light flurries beginning in the afternoon. Light northwest winds. Freezing level to 1400 metres with alpine high temperatures around -1.

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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