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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2020–Mar 17th, 2020

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead.

Lingering wind slabs below ridgetops may remain reactive to human triggers. Strong solar radiation weakens cornices and often causes them to fall onto slopes and trigger large avalanches. Pay attention to what's above your head if the sun is out.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Clear, Moderate west winds, alpine low -13 C, freezing level valley bottom.

Tuesday: Sunny, light northeast winds, alpine high 2 C, freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday: Sunny, light to moderate northwest winds, alpine high -3 C, freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday: Sunny, light west winds, alpine high -6 C, freezing level valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Check out this MIN of a notable avalanche reported on Monday.

Several large (size 2) wind slabs were reported on Saturday releasing naturally on lee slopes above 1700 m. 

Snowpack Summary

Strong easterly winds have drifted recent snow into wind slabs on lee terrain features in a reverse-loading pattern. 

A total of 30 to 60 cm of snow from the previous storm has been redistributed by wind or is well-settled. This snow sits over another layer of buried wind slabs in exposed areas and a sun crust on solar aspects (south through west facing slopes). Melt-freeze crusts extend up to 1900 m on other aspects. 

A thick crust/facet layer currently sits 30-60 cm below the surface. There has been only one avalanche reported on this layer since February 17th. The middle of the snowpack is generally strong, but the base of the snowpack contains weak basal facets that are most prominent in shallow rocky start zones.

Terrain and Travel

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.