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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 1st, 2020–Mar 2nd, 2020
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
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: Glacier.

Slopes with previous heavy skier traffic or avalanche activity may not be as reactive on the February 22nd PWL. Don't get lured into larger terrain just because you ski cut a few small slopes and nothing happened.

Weather Forecast

A weak ridge of high pressure will give sunny periods and isolated flurries today. Treeline temps will reach a high of of -10 C and ridge wind will remain light from the West.

A system hitting the South Coast later this afternoon will bring strong wind, snow and rising temps to the area early this week. We could see up to 40cm by Wednesday morning.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of new snow came with strong SW winds yesterday and overloaded the February 22nd Persistent Weak Layer in many locations. This PWL is now buried 60+cm, and consists of 3-7mm surface hoar on all aspects up to 2450m and a crust on solar aspects. No other layers are currently active in the mid and lower snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control Saturday morning produced numerous large to very large avalanches (up to size 3.5) in the highway corridor.

Several natural avalanches occurred Friday night. Large avalanches (up to size 3) ran to valley bottom.

Numerous reports of skiers triggering small-large persistent slab avalanches (on the February 22nd layer) this week.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Surface hoar buried on February 22nd is now a persistent weak layer down 60+cm.  The surface hoar overlies a thick crust on solar aspects. This layer was active yesterday and remains susceptible to human triggering.

  • Minimize exposure to steep, planar slopes.
  • Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Storm Slabs

20+cm in the last 48hrs has formed fresh storm slab. The storm slab, where triggered, may step down to the Feb 22nd surface hoar layer.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created fresh slabs.
  • 934

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2