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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2017–Mar 16th, 2017

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Rain and warm temperatures continue to induce a large avalanche cycle. A cooling trend on Friday will be short lived, after which a second wave of weather will impact the forecast region.

Weather Forecast

Continued warm temps are expected tomorrow, followed by a cooling trend on Friday. The wind is supposed to stay elevated in the strong range from the West. A second wave of precip is expected, yet again, on Saturday, accompanied by temperatures near zero.

Snowpack Summary

Additional snowfall and very warm temperatures have tipped the snowpack and an avalanche cycle is still underway. A 50 cm dense slab has overloaded two prominent weaknesses in the snowpack; one down 40cm and the other in facets near the base of the snowpack. Expect rain soaked snow at low elevation and the avalanche cycle to continue.

Avalanche Summary

A major avalanche cycle is underway, avoid avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

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.

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.