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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2024–Mar 10th, 2024

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell.

Buried weak layers remain the primary concern, capable of producing large avalanches.

Evaluate terrain carefully and minimize exposure to high-consequence slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday several size 2 persistent slabs were reported, both natural and human triggered - remotely from 100 m away, indicating weak layers remain sensitive.

Natural and explosive-triggered persistent slab avalanches have been reported (size 2 to 3.5) this week. While fewer human triggered avalanches have been reported, if triggered a large and destructive avalanche remains likely as shown by this remotely triggered avalanche near Golden on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions currently include sun crusts on south facing slopes, lightly wind-affected snow, and settling snow.

A widespread crust that formed in early February is roughly 80-120 cm deep. Weak faceted crystals and surface hoar above this crust are contributing to large avalanches across the province.

Additionally, the lower snowpack is mostly made up of weak and faceted layers.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Increasing cloud. 20-40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise drop to 800 m. Isolated flurries possible overnight.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 1-5 cm of snow. 20-40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m by the afternoon. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. 20-30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m by the afternoon. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m by the afternoon. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to the presence of deeply buried weak layers.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.