Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2014–Mar 2nd, 2014

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

The buried weak layer from early February continues to be a concern. Check out the forecasters’ blog.

Confidence

Fair - Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Sunday: Clear and cold overnight with strong Northeast winds. Alpine temperatures below -20. Cloud developing during the day with some light flurries in the afternoon combined with strong Easterly winds.Monday: Cloudy and cold with moderate Easterly winds. Alpine temperatures around -25.Tuesday: Mostly clear and cold with alpine temperatures around -22.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanche activity since the cold arctic air moved in to the region. North aspects in the alpine continue to be the most likely slopes for triggering the February weak layer where it may be well preserved and allow for long fracture propagations resulting in very large avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Cold arctic air has developed melt-freeze crusts on all aspects at lower elevations, and all but North aspects in the alpine. No recent reports of whumpfing or remote triggering on this weak layer of crusts and facets. Forecast strong Northeast outflow winds may continue to develop wind slabs in areas that still have snow available for transport. Basal facets and/or depth hoar remain a concern in shallow snowpack areas in the northern part of the region. Cornices are also large and may become weak if northerly winds start to undercut them.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.