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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2020–Mar 30th, 2020

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 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.

Regions

North Rockies.

New snow and wind expected through the weekend will build reactive storm slabs. Snow amounts may vary throughout the region. If there is more than 20 cm of new now overnight Friday, danger may be higher than indicated. This is the last forecast for the season.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations. Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY Night: Snow, accumulation 10-20 cm. Moderate to strong west wind. Alpine high around -10 C.

SATURDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Alpine high around -13 C.

SUNDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Alpine high around -13 C.

MONDAY: Mainly cloudy with sunny periods. Moderate southeast wind. Alpine high around -15. C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the past couple of days. 

As snow accumulates and the wind blows moderate to strong through the weekend, expect to see an increase in storm and wind slab avalanche activity. 

Snowpack Summary

15-35 cm of recent new snow may now be sitting on top of a variety of old surfaces including hard wind affected snow, sun crust on slopes facing the sun and a melt freeze crust at lower elevations.

At lower elevations, two surface hoar layers 50-60 cm and 75-90 cm below the surface may still be present in the northern part of the region. The snowpack below is reported to be strong and well settled.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.

Problems

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.