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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 21st, 2020–Mar 22nd, 2020
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Northwest Inland.

Wind slabs may be hidden by a dusting of new snow but keep in mind, human triggering of wind slabs may still be possible where they sit over a weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Partly cloudy. Moderate northwest wind. Freezing level 500 m.

Sunday: Around 10 cm new snow. Light southwest wind. Freezing level 700 m.

Monday: Up to 10 cm new snow overnight then scattered flurries. Moderate northeast wind. Freezing level 700 m.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud. Light north wind. Freezing level 500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches were observed on solar aspects during the warm, sunny week. A few cornice failures were observed Wednesday but did not trigger slabs. Lingering wind slabs and buried weak layers are still possible to be triggered by riders.

If you decide to travel in the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN) to supplement our data stream as operators are shutting down. Even just a photo of what the day looked like would be helpful.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 cm of new snow is falling over extensively wind-affected surfaces, and over melt-freeze crusts on solar aspects and low elevations.

A weak layer of surface hoar crystals buried early March may be found around 40 cm deep.

An early-season layer of faceted grains and melt-freeze crust near the base of the snowpack may linger. The most suspect locations to trigger this layer would be where the snowpack is thin near rocky outcrops. A large load, such as a cornice fall, also has the potential of triggering it. With cooling temperatures and increased cloud cover over the next few days, deep persistent avalanches on these layers are unlikely.

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent new snow may be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.
  • Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Previous wind events have loaded dense wind slab over a weak layer of surface hoar. Recent warm temperatures have likely promoted bonding of this layer and there is uncertainty around whether it is still sensitive to triggering.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2