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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2025–Mar 20th, 2025

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

Regions

Glacier.

Recent strong winds have created a windslab in the Alpine

This time of year convective flurries can give intense localised snowfall and strong wind gusts that aren't in the weather forecast.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The sun sure packs a punch this time of year! On Tuesday strong solar triggered a round of loose dry avalanches to sz 1.5 mostly from steep rocky terrain.

Some cornice triggered slabs have been observed over the week aswell.

Snowpack Summary

Convective squalls have incrementally delivered up to 50cm of new snow in the last week. Localized wind redistribution has been isolated to higher alpine features. The March 5th interface, down 50-100cm, consists of a crust &/or surface hoar (3-10mm, largest in the alpine).

Shaded, wind-sheltered areas above 1600m hold loose, dry snow (and great skiing!).

Two persistent weak layers (PWL) of heavily facetted snow from cold temps in Jan/Feb are now buried 120-160cm deep.

Weather Summary

Periods of snow and flurries for the next few days.

Tonight Cloudy with snow flurries. Snow: 2-5cms. Alpine low -6°C. Ridge wind SW 15km/hr gusting 45.

Thurs Mix sun & cloud. Alpine high -5°C. Wind SW 20 gusting 45km/h. Freezing Level (FZL) 1300m.

Fri Flurries. 10-15cm. Alpine high -3°C. Ridge winds SW 15-50km/h. FZL 1500m.

Sat Cloudy with flurries, trace snow. Alpine high -6°C. Wind SW 10-30km/h. FZL 1200m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.