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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 11th, 2023–Mar 14th, 2023

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

Regions

Long Range Mountains, Corner Brook, Gros Morne, Northern Peninsula.

Recently formed wind slabs may remain reactive. With beautiful weather in the forecast this week, watch for signs of warming on solar aspects.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

We are expecting fresh wind slabs to be small but reactive this weekend. Watch the MIN for reports of recent wind slab activity.

Prior to the weekend, recent observations were limited to small pockets of old wind slab lingering on easterly aspects. Older crowns and debris may remain visible from a wind slab cycle the first week of March.

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of recent snow sits over crusts and wind-hardened surfaces. At wind exposed elevations, the recent snow has likely seen some wind effect from previous moderate northerly wind.

The mid snowpack is composed of mainly dense, wind affected snow with a few crust layers. The lower snowpack is dense and well bonded from warm temperatures, rainfall and subsequent refreezing.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Clear. Moderate northeasterly wind, easing. Alpine low -9 C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Light northerly wind. Alpine high -5.

Monday

A trace of snow overnight then clearing to mostly sunny. Light northerly wind. Alpine high -2.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. Light northerly wind. Alpine high -2.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

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.

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.