Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2022–Mar 27th, 2022

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Warm air, sun, and rain may destabilize the snowpack at lower elevations and on sun-exposed slopes, with new wind slabs potentially forming up high. 

Adjust your travel plans accordingly to the changing conditions of elevation and time of day.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels. Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy. 15-35km/h southwest winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy with light precipitation, 5 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. 20-45 km/h southwest winds. Freezing level rising to 2500 m. 

MONDAY: Cloudy with precipitation, 5 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. 15-40 km/h northwest winds. Freezing level around 2000 m.

TUESDAY: Mainly clear. 10-30 km/h southwest winds. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Avalanche Summary

Several small (size 1-1.5) skier-triggered wind slabs occurred on Friday in the north of the region. 

Widespread wet loose and wet slab avalanche activity was observed last week during the warm spell. Several large (size 2-3) cornice failures were also observed.

Several large (size 2-3) persistent slab avalanches occurred during the warm-up on Wednesday and Thursday. These slabs were 70 to 150 cm deep and occurred on all aspects from 2100-2300 m.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 15 cm of recent snow and southwest winds may have formed small wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine. A refrozen crust can be found below the new snow on all aspects to at least 2300m. This crust is expected to break down throughout the day at low elevations with rain and warm temperatures. Below the crust, the top 10-30 cm of the snowpack is moist. At very low elevations, the snowpack may become wet and isothermal.

A weak layer may be found around 50 to 100 cm deep. The layer consists of surface hoar crystals in treeline terrain on northerly aspects or weak faceted grains above a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes (i.e., east, south, west). It has been reactive between 1800 and 2300 m but given the recent rain, it is most likely to be triggered between 2000 and 2300 m. It should still be treated as suspect if you find it in your riding area.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.

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.

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.