Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 3rd, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Cornices.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeWatch for fresh wind slabs forming in alpine terrain and continue to give cornices wide berth.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: A cold front crossing the region will most likely deliver just 5 cm of snow but there's potential for local enhancement of up to 15 cm, strong west wind, freezing level drops to valley bottom with alpine temperatures dropping to -8 C.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy in the morning then some sunny breaks in the afternoon, moderate west wind with strong gusts, freezing level rises from valley bottom to 1200 m, alpine temperatures around -5 C.
THURSDAY: Sunny, freezing level climbing from valley bottom to 1800 m in the afternoon, moderate southwest wind, alpine temperatures around -1 C.
FRIDAY: Increasing cloud with light flurries in the afternoon, moderate wind from the southwest, freezing level rises from 1200 m in the morning to 1800 m in the afternoon, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.
Avalanche Summary
A few small loose avalanches were observed on sun-exposed slopes on Tuesday, otherwise no notable avalanches were reported on Monday or Tuesday. Over the weekend a few small wind slab avalanches (see this MIN report) and size 2 cornice falls were reported. The cornice falls did not trigger any slabs on the slopes below.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of new snow and strong wind will form isolated wind slabs in alpine terrain on Wednesday. A crust can be found near the surface up to 2000 m on solar aspects and up to 1700 m on all other aspects. Alpine terrain is heavily wind affected.
A thick rain crust that has facets associated with it sits 30-60 cm below the surface and can be found up to ridge top. We have only seen one avalanche on this layer since February 17th. The mid-pack is well settled and strong, but the base of the snowpack contains basal facets that are most prominent in shallow rocky start zones.
Terrain and Travel
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Large cornice falls are dangerous on their own.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for thin wind slabs forming in the immediate lee of ridges.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices have grown large and loom over many ridge lines. These have the potential to fail naturally with the natural rise and fall of temperatures throughout the day, they could also fail if we get too close to them. Give these things a wide berth.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 4th, 2020 4:00PM