Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 9th, 2016–Mar 10th, 2016

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

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

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

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

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: South Rockies.

Heavy loading from snow, wind and rain will cause avalanche danger to spike.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Moderate snowfall starting overnight Wednesday and continuing throughout the day with over 15cm of accumulation expected. Freezing levels briefly reaching 2000m midday, and extreme southwesterly ridgetop winds. FRIDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with light precipitation and freezing levels back up to 2000m. Winds should ease off. SATURDAY Mainly cloudy with light precipitation picking up in the afternoon. Freezing levels hovering around 2000m and strong southwesterly ridgetop winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Monday or Tuesday. On Sunday, storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported from higher elevations. Expect natural wind and storm slab avalanche activity to increase with forecast heavy loading from snow, wind and rain.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of fresh snow has buried a widespread supportive crust. At higher elevations, touchy wind slabs linger below ridgecrests and behind terrain features in exposed terrain. Deeper in the snowpack, recent snowpack tests gave very easy sudden collapse results down 80cm on a southeast aspect at 1850m on the deep persistent facet/crust weakness from buried early December. Watch this weakness with extreme warming from sun-exposure, or warming/loading from rain. Cornices are also reported to be huge and weak.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Moderate to heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected to result in natural storm and wind slab avalanche activity.

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3