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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 10th, 2023–Mar 11th, 2023

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

While deeper snowpack zones seem to be a bit better, we are still wary of large triggers like cornices, or triggering the deeper persistent layers from shallow or rocky areas. Moderate terrain choices with limited overhead hazard continue to be the best way to manage the uncertainty in the snowpack.

Polar aspects should hold better skiing than sun exposed features at treeline and below.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Not much avalanche activity has been observed in this area during the past week, however thinner snowpack forecast areas to the East have seen significant avalanches on the different persistent layers almost every day.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm's of new snow overnight. Steep solar slopes at treeline and below are seeing the effects of the sun, with a significant sun crust in places. The various Jan PWL interfaces of sun crusts, facets, and surface hoar are now down 60-110 cm. The weaker Nov. 16 basal facet layer is down 120-170 cm and occasionally produces moderate to hard sudden collapse results in tests.

Weather Summary

A few cm's of new snow is expected Friday night with scattered flurries and a few sunny breaks on Saturday. Light W-SW winds with cool alpine temperatures of between -15 to -20°C are forecast.

For a more detailed weather forecast, click here.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.