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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2021–Mar 8th, 2021

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Lingering wind slabs are the primary concern, but also give a wide berth to large and looming cornices.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with light snowfall then clearing, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 10 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -8 C.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 10 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -8 C, freezing level 800 m.

TUESDAY: Mostly clear skies, 20 to 30 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -8 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 30 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

A few small (size 1) wind slabs were triggered by riders on Saturday near ridges and in steep terrain at treeline and alpine elevations. Otherwise, no new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Alpine terrain is heavily wind affected, with windward slopes being scoured and leeward slopes holding wind slabs. Treeline elevations may have around 20 cm of settled snow and perhaps a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects. Below treeline, the snow surface is likely a melt-freeze crust.

Around 60 to 90 cm of snow sits on a variety of old snow interfaces consisting of hard wind-affected snow in exposed terrain and weak faceted snow or possibly feathery surface hoar crystals in sheltered terrain. There has not been avalanche activity on these layers observed in the past week.

Faceted snow at the base of the snowpack exists in much of the region.

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.