Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 17th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Lynnea Baker,
Tuesdays storm brought wet flurries below treeline but a refresh at higher elevations. Ski quality was better than expected on Wednesdays field day.
Small wind slabs are still susceptible to human triggering in alpine and treeline lees.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Strong to extreme strong SW winds. Alpine high -1. Freezing level 1800m.
Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Strong gusting extreme SW winds. Alpine high 0. FL 1800m.
Sunday: Cloudy with isolated flurries, amounting to 5 cm . Clearing near noon. Moderate SW winds. Alpine high -5. FL valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
30 cm of new snow with moderate to strong south west winds have created new wind slabs 30-60 deep in alpine and treeline. This overlies old windslabs and the March 3 rain crust. Feb 15 crust down 70-120 cm exists up to 2000m. Lower snowpack is well settled 1F to P. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.
Avalanche Summary
On tuesday a wet loose cycle occurred during the storm with a few natural to size 2. Adjacent tenures have reported isolated large wind slab avalanches to size 3. As always keep those Mountain Information Network observations coming.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
Problems
Wind Slabs
Tuesdays 30 cm of snow and strong winds have created windslabs in treeline and alpine lees. Though natural activity has tapered it still remains possible to human triggering.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2022 4:00PM
