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Avalanche Forecast

Mar 20th, 2018–Mar 21st, 2018
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
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
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Northwest Inland.

Be alert for lingering wind slabs at higher elevations.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Cloudy with new snow up to 5 cm. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 900 m. Ridgetop winds moderate from the East. Thursday: Snow amounts 10-20 cm, accompanied by strong ridgetop winds from the East. Freezing levels near 800 m.Friday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine high of -7 and freezing levels near 700 m. Light winds from the East. 

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported. Over the past weekend, wet loose avalanches to size 2.5 were reported at all elevations on sunny aspects. Some of these stepped down to basal facets in northern parts of the region. In the south of the region, cornice failures on north facing ridge lines in the alpine were also reported, to size 2, but not triggering slabs below. With forecast snow and wind you can expect the avalanche hazard to rise.

Snowpack Summary

Variable snow surfaces exist including dry snow, surface hoar, crusts and moist snow at lower elevations. High elevation, north aspects may have lingering wind slabs in immediate lee features which sit on surface hoar and/ or a sugary facet layer found down 10-30 cm.A surface hoar and crust layer from January is buried around 80 to 140 cm in the southwest of the region. This layer still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.Sugary facets exist at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may linger in lee and cross-loaded features at higher elevations.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5