Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 29th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Loose Wet, Wet Slabs and Wind Slabs.

jonas hoke,

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Avalanche danger will increase with daytime warming, and spike quickly if it starts to rain mid-day.

Start your day early, and be ready to scale back your exposure as soon as the surface crust breaks down.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A cold front Weds brings light precip followed by cooling temps

Tonight: Increasing cloud. Alpine Low -3*C, Freezing level (FZL) 800m

Wed: Scattered flurries/rain showers (5-10cm/mm), High -2*C, FZL 2000m, light SW ridgetop winds

Thur: Isolated flurries, Low -10*C, High -7*C, FZL 1200m, moderate W wind

Fri: Mainly cloudy, Low -9*C, High -5*C, FZL 1500m

Snowpack Summary

Diurnal temp swings control the upper snowpack - fast travel on a crust in the AM, sticky wet snow in the PM (scale back terrain use for the latter). Recent slab avalanches have failed in the upper snowpack, near the base on the the Dec. 1st crust/facet combo, and on the ground. On high N aspects, 20cm of dry snow has formed pockets of slab.

Avalanche Summary

Daytime warming Tuesday triggered a natural cycle of large to very large avalanches, and heli bombing also produced several size 2-3 results.

Rain Monday triggered a large-very large natural cycle, and allowed for good artillery control results (up to size 3.5).

Glide cracks have been reactive recently, avoid exposure to these unpredictable features.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Warm temps and rain have weakened the low elevation snowpack. Cool temps in the morning will temporarily pause this problem, but daytime warming will reignite this issue each day.

  • Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
  • Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wet Slabs

An icon showing Wet Slabs

Wet slabs have been failing in the upper snowpack, as well as on the deeply buried Dec. 1st layer.

Full depth glide avalanches have been occurring recently as well.

  • Daytime warming/rain will weaken surface layers.
  • If triggered, loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow, moderate SW winds, and mild temps are the perfect combination for forming fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Expect to find potentially reactive slabs if you can get to higher elevations.

  • Use caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2022 4:00PM

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