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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2013–Mar 30th, 2013

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, 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

South Rockies.

The region will be under the influence of a major warm-up through the weekend. Be aware of snow conditions changing quickly and avalanche danger increasing.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

The  region will be under a significant high pressure system and blocking pattern that won't allow any active weather throughout the forecast period. Sunny skies with few clouds and high freezing levels will continue.Saturday: Sunny with possible high cloud in the afternoon. Alpine temperatures near -1.0 and freezing levels rising to 2600 m. Ridgetop winds will blow light from the NW.Sunday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures 2.0 degrees and freezing levels 2700 m. Ridgetop winds will be light from the NW.Monday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near 2.0 degrees and freezing levels hover around 2500 m. Ridgetop winds blowing light from the West.

Avalanche Summary

No new observations reported today.On Thursday, several loose wet avalanches size 1 initiated from steep Southerly terrain. 

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and will likely become weak due to strong solar radiation and warming temperatures. The surface snow has become moist or wet up to 2200 m, especially on solar aspects. Melt-freeze conditions exist. Wind slabs exist in the immediate lee of ridge lines and terrain features. Surface hoar and surface facetting is forming on sheltered, northerly aspects, especially at higher elevations.Up to70 cm of settling snow sits on top of a buried rain crust down 50 cm and exists up to around 2100 m. The bond of this snow to the crust has shown variability though the region. It is important to dig down and test weak layers before dropping into your line. A large trigger such as a cornice fall or a skier/sledder hitting the sweet spot, could potentially trigger a large avalanche on this layer.

Problems

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.

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.

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.