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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 22nd, 2014–Feb 23rd, 2014

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Check out the Forecasters Blog for more discussion on the current conditions seen in most regions.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: An arctic ridge of high pressure will dominate the weather pattern over the next few days resulting in cool temperatures, mainly sunny skies, and strong outflow winds (from the east-northeast) in coastal inlets and valleys. A temperature inversion may develop on Monday and we could see above freezing temperatures in the alpine on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Parts of the region reported a widespread natural avalanche cycle that likely occurred on Thursday and/or Friday. Avalanches up to size 3 were reported. Several natural loose snow avalanches were also reported on Friday on south aspects when the sun poked out. Rider triggered avalanches, remotely triggered avalanches, and whumpfing continues throughout the region. This highlights the touchy nature of the snowpack. Slight changes from snow loading, wind loading, or solar radiation could be enough to tip the scales.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snowfall amounts vary considerably throughout the region. Some areas received as much as 45 cm of convective power flurries over the past couple days. The prominent mid February persistent weakness, consisting of surface hoar, facets, crust and/or wind pressed surfaces, is down 60-100 cm in the north and 120-160 cm in the south. Widespread whumpfing, cracking, natural avalanche activity and remote triggering at all elevations are a strong indication of poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces. Previous strong W-NW winds and forecast E-NE winds will likely create wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain at all elevations.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.