Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 11th, 2019–Mar 12th, 2019

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

Storm slabs may develop this afternoon in the Alpine and at Tree line. Isolated pockets of buried wind slabs exist in the Alpine. Expect sluffing in steep terrain to travel fast and far.

Weather Forecast

Light snowfall this morning and moderate snowfall this afternoon. We could see accumulations of up to 10cm by the end of the day, with some moderate winds from the South West, and the freezing level staying below valley bottom. Another 10cm tonight is forecasted tonight, then a mix of sun and cloud for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

~30cm of recent snow covers 20-30cm of facets, wind slabs, and/or sun crusts up to 3cm thick. Recent moderate southerly winds have deposited isolated pockets of wind slab along ridge lines and cross loaded features. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong.

Avalanche Summary

Approx 5 new avalanches were triggered yesterday by the sun in the HWY corridor. These were loose dry in the morning, turning to loose moist in the afternoon, and ranged from size 1 to 2. Reports of natural loose dry avalanches up to sz 1.5 and skier triggered sz 1 sluffing in steep terrain (40 degree+) from the backcountry.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Another 10-15cm of new snow today; plus, the 30cm of recent storm snow and moderate winds, will form soft slabs in the Alpine and exposed areas of tree line. The slabs may be overlying weak faceted snow, old wind slabs, or a sun crust.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Loose Dry

The recent snow is unlikely to bond well to crusts and facets, and should be a concern if considering riding steep faces or traveling in confined chutes; manage your sluff accordingly.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.Recent snow may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar aspects where it sits on sun crust

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5