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 20th, 2022–Mar 21st, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast.

 Keep an eye on the weather throughout the day. Hazard will increase as freezing levels rise and storm snow accumulates. 

Confidence

Moderate - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

Sunday night: 15 to 25 cm of new snow at higher elevations with moderate southerly winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.

Monday: stormy with 10 to 25 cm of snow expected. Light to moderate southeast winds and freezing levels around 1300 m.

Tuesday: cloudy with 10 mm of precipitation likely falling as rain at all elevations. moderate southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 2500 m.

Wednesday: cloudy with light flurries bringing up to 5cm of snow at higher elevations. Freezing levels falling to 1500 m. Light to moderate southwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wet loose avalanches to size two running in steep terrain have been observed in the region. This type of avalanche activity will likely increase as the freezing level rises and precipitation falls as rain.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab can be found on northerly aspects at higher elevations. The upper snowpack contains several crust layers that can likely be found on all aspects and elevations except high north terrain. The snowpack is considered well-settled and strong below these crusts. 

Moist snow can be observed at lower elevations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.