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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2022–Mar 31st, 2022

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

Northwest Inland.

Watch for recently formed wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain features. 

Large cornices are reported to have become weak with the recent mild conditions and should be avoided when travelling on or below ridge crests. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Unsettled conditions are expected for Thursday before a weak storm system arrives on Friday. 

Wednesday night: Light snowfall 1-4 cm, moderate W winds, treeline low around -5 °C.

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with periods of sun in the morning and a chance of isolated flurries, light to moderate NW winds, freezing level around 1000 m.

Friday: Snowfall 5-10 cm, moderate to strong SW winds, freezing level around 1200 m.

Saturday: Mainly cloudy with a chance of both sunny breaks and flurries, moderate SW winds, freezing level around 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, the Avalanche Canada field team reported a natural size 2 cornice release which was observed on a northeast aspect at 1750 m. In the far north of the region, some additional cornice releases were observed, one of which triggered a slab on the slope below. At lower elevations in the south of the region, explosives triggered loose wet avalanches up to size 2. A natural size 2 icefall was also reported. 

On Monday, several small wet loose avalanches were observed on steep solar terrain in the region.

Snowpack Summary

A few centimetres of new snow is expected to have buried a widespread supportive crust which extends into the lower alpine on all aspects and the high alpine on sun-exposed aspects. Wind slabs may be found at high elevations on north and east aspects. Large overhanging cornices have also been observed in the region recently which may remain weak with the current mild conditions.

A couple of layers of weak crystals in the upper snowpack appear to be bonding according to recent observations and snowpack tests. Additionally, we suspect that the surface crust will help bridge these layers, further decreasing their likelihood of triggering older persistent weak layers. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.