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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2024–Mar 21st, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Incoming snow and rain will not improve the challenging travel and variable spring snowpack present through out the park.

Expect conditions to vary greatly with elevation and aspect.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has decreased with cooler temperatures and cloud cover.

A widespread cycle of natural size 3-3.5 avalanches occurred Fri to Tues. These wet avalanches failed within the moist upper snowpack and stepping down to the persistent weak layer (over 1m deep).

A field team investigated a natural, size 3 avalanche that occurred on Mar 18th, on a N aspect at treeline. The failure plane was down ~120 cm on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

New snow will bury a crust found on most aspects and elevations, except treeline and above on polar slopes. Rain is forecast below treeline, this will further weaken the snowpack.

A weak layer formed on March 8th is down 40-50 cm. It has been preserved on Northerly aspects at treeline and above.

The Feb 3rd crust is down 80-140 cm. A weak layer of loose snow sits above it. This is a significant persistent weak layer and will be a concern for the foreseeable future.

Weather Summary

A clash of weather systems over the province will bring cooling temperatures and light (possibly moderate) snow over next few days.

Tonight: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp Low: -4, Light SW winds, Snow Lvl: Valley Bottom

Thurs: Flurries, 5-15 cm, Alp High: -4, Light gusting to Mod NW winds, Snow Lvl: 1000 m

Fri: Cloudy/Flurries, Alp High: -5, Light E winds

Sat: Cloudy/Flurries, Trace, Alp High: -5, Light NE winds

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.

Problems

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.

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.