Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 29th, 2015–Mar 30th, 2015

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

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

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Rising freezing levels today with more snow/rain along with it. Stick to conservative terrain and minimize your groups exposure to overhead hazard.

Weather Forecast

Zonal weather pattern has been bringing a series of storms to our region and will continue to do so until Wednesday. 10-15cm of snow is expected in the Alpine today as freezing levels slowly rise throughout the day to ~1800m. Associated westerly winds will be strong. This system will taper off by tonight giving us a little break until early Tuesday

Snowpack Summary

~12.0mm of rain two nights ago to 2000m has left a 8cm wet layer of snow beneath ~10cm of moist fresh snow since then. At tree line the top 60cm is moist. Limited alpine observations, expect 30cm of recent storm snow over persistent weak layers in the top 1.5m which were reactive to human triggers prior to this storm.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches observed in the highway corridor yesterday ranging in size 2.0 to 2.5.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Recent and forecast precipitation could be enough to overload instabilities within our snowpack. A number of weak layers reside in the top 1.5m and were triggered by people in the backcountry last week.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 4

Storm Slabs

~30cm of recent snow in the Alpine over lying a number of crusts which were reactive to riders throughout the area. Tread cautiously in the upper elevations where recent precipitation fell as snow.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Loose Wet

More rain is expected throughout today as freezing levels rise to near 2000m.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2