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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2012–Mar 9th, 2012

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Friday: Precipitation is expected to taper off to scattered light to moderate showers under an unstable airmass, however strong southwesterly winds are expected to continue. Freezing levels are expected to hover around 500-700 m. Saturday and Sunday: A fairly weak system is expected to arrive on the north coast on Saturday bringing light to moderate precipitation to the area. This system will be through by Sunday but moderate showers will likely prevail under a very unstable airmass. Strong southerly winds and freezing level around 500-1000m are expected for both days.

Avalanche Summary

Observations were limited on Wednesday, but reports suggest that a large natural avalanche cycle occurred in the Stewart and Bear Pass area, but the storm had yet to reach areas further south.

Snowpack Summary

Strong westerly winds are keeping wind slabs fresh and weak on lee aspects and isolated afternoon down flow (katabatic) winds were reported to have deposited new wind slabs primarily in gully features and on northerly aspects. The early February persistent weak layers seem to be bonding, but remain a concern at higher elevations with heavy triggers such as cornice falls. While below treeline persistent slabs are reactive to human triggers on isolated sheltered steep terrain where buried surface hoar is preserved. Surface hoar buried at the beginning of March remains unreactive due to limited slab formation.

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.

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.

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.