Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 30th, 2014–Mar 31st, 2014

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Today is a good day to use conservative route selection. Storm slabs are likely to trigger today.

Weather Forecast

Freezing level 1400m. 70% chance of flurries today, with 5cm snow possible. For Monday a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow layers have been slow to bond and remain skier triggerable. An additional 18cm of snow overnight now adds more load to these layers. Southerly wind will have created deep slabs below ridge crests on N through E aspects. Solar aspects have sun crusts buried at various depths. Feb 10 layer is down on average 2m and remains a concern.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose moist avalanches yesterday in the hwy corridor, most size 2.0 and on all aspects. A small cycle out of steep extreme terrain is likely happening now from the overnight storm. These avalanches have the potential to step down to weak layers deeper in the snowpack creating much larger slides, which could run to valley bottoms.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

The recent storm slabs have been slow to bond and remain in the skier triggerable range. Lee aspects in the alpine and treeline elevations are the more likely areas for a slide to propagate. Low elevations may have possible moist sluffs.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

more reactive on solar aspects.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The Mar 2nd crust is down around 1.25m. The slab overtop the weak layers down 1-1.5m continues to settle and become more cohesive. The Feb 10 layer down 2m is a major low probability high consequence concern.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3