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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2017–Mar 28th, 2017

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

Regions

Glacier.

Alpine glaciers may be where you are headed to get to the long powder runs - take your crevasse rescue kit and know how to use it. On your way, avoid overhead hazards and be diligent about evaluating snow stability and your route.

Weather Forecast

A westerly flow will bring scattered flurries today. Localized snowfall could result to some areas receiving moderate to heavy amounts in a short time. Ridge winds will be SW 10 to 20km/h. Alpine temperatures with a high of -5C. The sun is not forecast to show itself today, but if it does, watch for signs of a quickly destabilizing snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

Dry powder snow can be found on north aspects in the alpine. On solar aspects, moist snow buries a crust 20-30cm deep - a potential touchy sliding layer if temperatures warm up. Cornices are very large right now; try to avoid traveling under them - they have potential to trigger weak layers deep in the snowpack. Windslabs can be found on lee slopes

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday, six natural size 2.0 to 2.5 moist slab avalanches occurred in the west end of the park. With daytime warming or solar inputs this type of activity will continue. On Saturday, at the 1900m elevation and below, field teams were able to ski-cut numerous reactive loose wet avalanches, 20 to 30cm deep and overlying a crust.

Confidence

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.