Avalanche Forecast
Natural persistent slab avalanche activity has tapered, however a cautious approach is warranted as there is still potential for human triggered persistent slabs.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Reports from the last few days show several persistent slab storm slab and wind slab avalanches size 1.5 to 2.5 in the alpine and treeline elevation bands. These were natural and skier triggered. A few were remotely triggered (from a distance) and all were suspected of running on a recently buried layer of surface hoar 30 to 40 cm deep.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm of recent new snow is being redistributed by primarily southerly winds. This new snow fell on a widespread layer of large surface hoar crystals, which may sit on a crust on solar aspects and at low elevations.
A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-February are buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer produced large natural and human-triggered avalanches through the previous week.
The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated with no concerns at this time.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 1 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 15 to 30 km/h south and southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Two buried weak layers of facets and/or surface hoar that were buried mid February and early March have been recently reactive.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Wind Slabs
Recent new snow has been redistributed into alpine and treeline lee terrain. Wind slabs may be more reactive where sitting on a recently buried layer of surface hoar.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2