Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 21st, 2016–Mar 22nd, 2016

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Poor overnight freeze below treeline and strong gusty alpine winds have elevated avalanche hazard today.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries today with precip tapering off by mid morning. Freezing levels are forecasted to reach 1700m today, which thankfully is lower than yesterday but still quite high. Alpine high today of -2 deg & wind should be Southwest 15kph gusting to 40

Snowpack Summary

Poor overnight freeze and new snow to insulate will keep surface snow moist to 2000m. Windslab exists on alpine lee features. Last week's storm snow is well settled with the warm temps & remains unconsolidated on northerly aspects and sits over crusts on solar aspects. The Feb 27 interface is down 70cm and is more sensitive on steep solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend there was a number of avalanches triggered by cornice fall. Yesterday's warm temps triggered a natural avalanche cycle to sz 2.5, with avalanches leaving moist deposits.Â Unfortunately freezing levels won't drop enough to significantly improve avalanche hazard below treeline.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Southwest winds have picked up this morning gusting to 51 kph. This will be actively creating windslab with the 7cm of new snow and promoting rapid cornice growth which could trigger natural cornice fall. Avoid slopes below these overhead hazards

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Buried crusts and associated weak layers have created persistent instabilities on solar aspects. Recent storm snow sits on top of crusts 30-50cm down. Feb 27 interface down 80-120cm still producing sudden planar results. Take the time to evaluate.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Loose Wet

Temperatures remained warm overnight not giving the snowpack it's nightly cooling cycle and therefore not regaining it's strength. To add to the problem the 5cm of new snow is acting like a blanket keeping the snowpack warm.

Avoid lingering in runout zones.Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2