Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.
Jonas Hoke,
Spring is in the air.
Pack your sun screen and you shades, and dial back your terrain selection on solar aspects during the heat of the day.
Summary
Weather Forecast
We are into a cooling/drying trend after our warm wet weather from earlier this week, with high pressure over Rogers Pass.
Tonight: Clear periods. Alpine Low -11*C. Light NE ridgetop winds.
Sat: Sun, convective clouds in the PM. High -8*C. Light N wind.
Sun: Sunny periods, isolated flurries. Low -11*C, High -10*C. Light W wind.
Mon: Flurries.
Snowpack Summary
Fluctuating temps have settled the upper snowpack & created a surface crust below 1500m (higher on solars).
Up to 45cm of snowfall early in the week, with warm temps and a brief wind spike, created storm slabs over the Feb 26th interface - wind effect in open areas, small surface hoar and facets in sheltered terrain, and sun crust on steep solars.
Avalanche Summary
Friday: Field teams observed a few size 1-1.5 loose snow avalanches triggered by the sun on steep slopes. There was similar activity in the highway corridor.
Thursday: A field team triggered a size 1.5 storm slab on a NE aspect at treeline, and there was a MIN report of an avalanche involvement on the Dome exit.
Confidence
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs buried a mix of surfaces; firm windslabs in all open terrain, sun crust on steep solar aspects below treeline, and small surface hoar and facets in sheltered areas.
- Lingering storm slabs may still be reactive on specific terrain features
- If the sun stays out exercise caution on steep South and West aspects in the afternoon.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
The March sun has some punch, and may trigger loose snow avalanches on solar aspects during the heat of the day.
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2022 4:00PM
