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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 21st, 2024–Mar 22nd, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Cool temperatures decrease hazard. If a thick crust is present, large slab avalanches are unlikely.

Back off if you find moist or wet surface snow; large slab avalanches remain triggerable.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, several large persistent and wet avalanches were reported, up to size 3. These avalanches are the tail end of a widespread, large natural avalanche cycle.

While temperatures are now cooling, large avalanches remain possible where hard surface crust does not exist.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 5 to 10 cm of snow overlying a thick melt-freeze crust at higher elevations. This crust is expected to be at the surface below 1500 m.

Two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack.

A widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it, producing the previous large, natural avalanche cycle.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 15 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around -6 °C. Freezing level drops to surface.

Friday

Sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around -3 °C.

Spring diurnal cycle begins, freezing levels dropping to surface overnight and rising to about 1500 m during the day.

Saturday

Cloudy. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around -3 °C. Spring diurnal continues.

Sunday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Two reactive layers exist in the upper snowpack. One is down 40 cm and the deeper one down 80 to 150 cm. In areas where a thick, supportive crust exists these avalanches are unlikely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5

Loose Wet

Warm temperatures and sunny skies may produce wet loose avalanches, especially on steep slopes facing the sun.

These may step down and trigger deeper slab avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5