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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2021–Mar 15th, 2021

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Temperatures are cooling overnight. The remaining concern is isolated wind slabs in the alpine. Even small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain.

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, up to 5 cm new snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, alpine low -5 C, freezing level lowering to 1000 m. 

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, trace of new snow, 10 km/h northwest wind, alpine high -1 C, freezing level 1600 m.

TUESDAY: Sunny, 20 km/h westerly wind, alpine high 4 C, freezing level 1900 m.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny, 20 km/h southeast wind, alpine high 5 C, freezing level 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural and explosives triggered wet loose avalanches up to size 3 on steep solar aspects were reported on Sunday. A large cornice failure (size 2.5) was observed and did not trigger a slab on the slope below. 

Numerous natural wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed on solar aspects as well as on polar aspects up to 2100 m on Saturday. Several cornice failures up to size 2.5 during the heat of the day were reported. The cornices did not trigger slabs on the slopes below. A large glide snow avalanche (size 2.5) released naturally. Explosives triggered a persistent slab avalanche of size 3 in the southeast of the region. 

Small size 1 naturally triggered wind slabs on north aspects and size 1 wet loose avalanches on solar aspects in the alpine were reported on Friday.

On Thursday, a skier triggered a size 2 storm slab avalanche on a southeast aspect in the alpine. The sun had warmed around 20 cm of convective new snow just enough to react as a soft slab on a steep, convex feature.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent convective snow and moderate westerly winds have formed fresh wind slabs below alpine ridgetops. Sunny skies and warm temperatures formed sun crusts on solar aspects at all elevations and up to 2000 m on polar aspects. Dry snow still exists on north aspects at upper elevations. Large cornices loom over alpine ridgetops.

Persistent weak layers of surface hoar, crusts, and/or facets 80-120 cm down have recently been unreactive except for an explosives triggered avalanche in the southeast of the region on Saturday. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

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.