Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 10th, 2014 8:02AM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeAs the weather clears, approach the backcountry with caution. The storm snow will take time to heal. The forecast warm temperatures with incoming solar radiation will delay this on sunny slopes.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will be remaining mild as we begin a new weather pattern with more of a spring like feel. A ridge of high pressure will bring larger diurnal temperature fluctuations with more solar punch as the sun shines. Freezing levels are expected to rise to 1550m and no new snow is expected for the near future.
Snowpack Summary
Expect a surface crust and moist snow below it below 2000m. The recent storm snow over the March 2nd crust is around 1m. The Feb. 10 interface is down around 2m. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday's storm produced a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3.5 throughout the highway corridor. Avalanches began dry but ended as moist deposits on their fans. Artillery controlled produced impressive avalanches to size 4.0 showing wide propagation.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Storm Slabs
30cm of heavy snow with wind fell yesterday over much cooler and lighter snow. This combination is what caused a large avalanche cycle. Storm snow instabilities will still exist in the upper 1m and will need some time to bond to be trusted.
Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong inicators of unstable snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A sun crust down ~1m is well within the range of human triggering on south and west aspects. The February surface hoar/crust layer down ~1.5-2m which can reawaken with a heavy trigger such as a large cornice release.
Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 11th, 2014 8:00AM