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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2014–Feb 28th, 2014

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

Regions

Glacier.

Patience, and in time, you will be rewarded. Give the surface slab a little more time to bond to the underlying weakness.

Weather Forecast

A cloudy day is forecasted for the region today, with light to moderate west winds in the alpine and nil precipitation. Freezing levels may reach 1500m today, but there won't be the same kind of punch to the sun as yesterday. Friday, and into the weekend, will see clearing and cooler temperatures in the area, with low's reaching into the -20's.

Snowpack Summary

1-1.4m of storm snow has settled into a cohesive slab over the Jan 28/22 facet/surface hoar/crust interface. Tests suggest this weak layer is difficult to trigger and gaining strength, but if failed has high propagation propensity. Below this the snowpack is well settled. A surface sun crust has been found on steeper south and west aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous avalanches from size 1.5-2.5 were observed from steep, southerly aspects yesterday along the highway corridor.

Confidence

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.

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.