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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2013–Mar 8th, 2013

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Friday: Some clouds and moisture are expected to linger in the region as the low pressure system to the South moves Eastward. The freezing level should rise to about 1200 metres.Saturday: The ridge of high pressure is expected to re-build over most of the interior ranges, bringing mostly clear skies and light winds.Sunday: The low pressure system moving in from the Pacific is expected to be mostly confined to the coast, but some models show a pulse of moisture moving into the interior.

Avalanche Summary

Some sluffing was reported from steep terrain in the alpine. There was a report from the Central Selkirks of a chunk of snow that fell out of some cliffy terrain at treeline and then propagated three progressively deeper slabs resulting in a size 2.5 avalanche sliding on the February 12th weak layer down about 100 cms.

Snowpack Summary

A light dusting of new snow is sitting above various sun crusts and old storm slabs. The storm slab continues to settle, and is becoming more stubborn to trigger. The weak layer of surface hoar that was buried on February 12th is now down about 100-150 cms and continues to be triggered by light additional loads on Southerly aspects where it is sitting on an old sun crust. Larger loads like cornice fall or explosives have been able to trigger this layer on various aspects in the alpine and at treeline. If the we get a period of strong solar radiation, then we may see another cycle of natural activity on Southerly aspects resulting in large destructive avalanches.

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.

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.