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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 2023–Mar 7th, 2023

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

Regions

Little Yoho.

Thicker snowpack areas around the divide have a slightly better snowpack than our forecast regions to the east, but lots of uncertainty still exists in thinner spots where it may still be possible to trigger the deeper layers in the snowpack. Moderate terrain choice with limited overhead hazard is still the best way to manage this uncertainty.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported or observed in this region on Sunday and Monday. Further to the east, in thinner snowpack areas, continued avalanche activity has occurred, keeping us suspect of all thin snowpack areas.

Snowpack Summary

Many alpine and exposed regions at treeline are wind effected with recent wind slabs that are slowly becoming less reactive. Steep solar slopes at treeline and below have a thin sun crust. The various Jan PWL interfaces of sun crusts, facets, and surface hoar are down 50-90 cm. The weaker Nov 16 basal facet layer is down 120-180 cm and is still present but not consistently reactive in test pits.

Weather Summary

A stable weather pattern continues with treeline highs of -8°C and overnight lows of -20°C. Winds will be calm to light from the W/SW. The skies will be mostly clear with some scattered clouds.

For a more detailed weather forecast, click here.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.

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.