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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2022–Mar 24th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies.

Assess for wind slabs up high and use caution on sun-exposed slopes during daytime warming.

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 40 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -9 C.

THURSDAY: Clear skies with no precipitation, 10 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level rising to 1400 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 10 km/h southeast wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 20 km/h southeast wind, alpine temperature -3 C.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread wet avalanche activity was observed on Tuesday, occurring out of steep terrain at treeline elevations and below. A few wind slab avalanches and potential persistent slab avalanches were also observed from afar between 1900 to 2200 m, occurring on northerly aspects.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of snow will fall onto moist snow or a hard melt-freeze crust on all aspects below around 2000 m. At high elevations where recent precipitation fell as snow, wind slabs may linger in steep, lee terrain features from recent southerly wind. The snow surface may moisten during daytime warming, particularly on sun-exposed slopes.

A weak layer may be found around 40 to 80 cm deep in the western half of the region. The layer consists of surface hoar crystals in treeline terrain in areas sheltered from the wind and otherwise a hard melt-freeze crust associated with weak faceted grains on sun-exposed slopes. Check out this blog for more information. This layer may linger in isolated areas within the region.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.