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 17th, 2013–Mar 18th, 2013

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 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.

Weather Forecast

Unsettled conditions will continue through Monday night with light precipitation and moderate NW wind in the alpine. Periods of more intense snow and gusty winds are also expected. Temps will stay below -5, and in the alpine lower to -15. On Tuesday, a brief ridge of high pressure will bring sunny periods and light SW winds before the next storm.

Snowpack Summary

Dense snow was rapidly deposited on a reactive layer down 55-65cm, which consists of a variety of surfaces including small surface hoar and crust. The storm snow is wet below 1650m and moist to 2000m. At treeline and above, sustained winds have further loaded slopes and formed windslabs. A surface hoar layer down 1.2m continues to be monitored.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday, 1 size 2.5 natural avalanche was observed on a SE aspect at 2000m. During last weeks storm, numerous avalanches were observed running to valley bottom with many in the size 3.5 range. Cracking has been reported when ski cutting steep, supported rolls. A slab avalanche 65cm deep was triggered by loading snow. The debris was 1.5m.

Confidence

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.

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.