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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 21st, 2022–Mar 22nd, 2022

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

 Keep an eye on the snow surface. As the freezing level rises and the snow surface becomes moist wet loose avalanches will increase in size and likelihood. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Moderate southwest winds becoming strong. Freezing level around 1400 m. 

Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cmof new snow in the morning with a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. Strong southwest winds. Freezing levels rising to 2500 m.

Wednesday: Cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow expected. Strong southwest winds in the morning and light in the evening. Freezing level around 2000 m.

Thursday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Light variable winds and freezing levels around 1600 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday several skier and explosive controlled storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported. These avalanches were generally at or above treeline and on northerly aspects. One size 2 explosive controlled cornice fall was reported as well. This avalanche did not pull a slab on the slope below.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs can be found on north and east aspects at treeline and above. Moist snow could be observed on all aspects and elevations. South facing slopes in the alpine are a mix of wind pressed and scoured surfaces.

40 to 90 cm overlies the mid March layer. This layer presents as surface hoar in shady, wind-sheltered areas and a hard melt-freeze crust on all aspects below 1700 m and on sun-exposed slopes into the alpine. No avalanche activity has taken place on this layer recently and observations suggest the slab above is well bonded.

Over one meter deep, a layer of facets may be found above a melt-freeze crust that formed in February. This layer had been most reactive on north and northeast aspects between 1600 and 2100 m. This layer is currently considered dormant. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.