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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 10th, 2022–Mar 11th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies.

New snow and strong west winds will form fresh wind slabs on lee features throughout the day.

 Cornices are very large in many areas. Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / Strong west winds / Low of -11 / Freezing level surface.

FRIDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm, and another 10-20 cm overnight / Strong west wind / High of -1 / Freezing level rising to 1300 m.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-5 cm / Moderate northwest wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 1300 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy / Light west wind / High of -6 / Freezing level valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday.

A skier triggered size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a east aspect below a treeline ridgetop on Monday. The wind slab was sitting on a layer of recently buried surface hoar which resulted in wide propagation of the slab.

Riders may get surprised by widely propagating wind slabs that are sitting on crusts and/or surface hoar.

Snowpack Summary

Recent west/northwest winds have formed wind slabs on lee features in the alpine. Below the recent snow, there may be a layer of small surface hoar that is likely most pronounced in shady or sheltered locations. Riders may be surprised by widely propagating wind slabs on steep and/or convex slopes where this surface hoar is present.

Sun crust on southerly aspects and temperature crust on all aspects below 1500 m.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas, with multiple crusts throughout. No recent persistent slab avalanches have been reported on these layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.