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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2023–Feb 19th, 2023

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

Regions

Glacier.

Avalanche Danger will increase over the day as the snow continues to fall and the winds remain strong.

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Expect avalanche activity to increase throughout the day on Sunday.

On Friday a skier triggered size 2.5 near the top of Bruins Ridge and had a narrow run down the full length of 8812 Bowl, dusting the skin track en route to Balu Pass. 150m wide with a crown depth of 20-90cm and traveling 1.2km.

Snowpack Summary

30+cm of recent snow and moderate-strong Westerly winds have formed fresh slabs in the Alpine. As the snow continues to fall, expect the storm slab to become more reactive at all elevations.

Several thin crusts are buried on steep solar aspects.

The deep persistent weakness at the base of the snowpack (rounding facets and a crust in some locations), has been showing signs of strengthening recently.

Weather Summary

Powder seekers will be pleased with the 15-20cm of new snow falling throughout the day on Sunday. Winds will be 40-50km/hr from the West with an alpine high of -7.

Another 10cm and tapering winds Monday night into Tuesday.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.