Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2023–Mar 16th, 2023

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

Regions

Glacier.

The strong March sun will the increase the likelihood of triggering slabs on sunny aspects, pay attention to changes in surface snow stability between shaded and sunny slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity has subsided since Monday's storm however, human triggering remains possible and the likelihood will increase as the sun warms the snow surface. A field team was able to ski cut size 1 slabs on small unsupported features on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of recent snow is now settling over a variety of old surfaces (wind affect, sun crust and/or surface hoar) and will take longer to bond where it sits on a crust/surface hoar. Below this is a generally strong snowpack however the basal weakness of rounding facets/decomposing crust persists near the ground and should not be left out of your decision making.

Weather Summary

Building high pressure will maintain calm weather through the remainder of this week with light winds and no significant precipitation.

Thurs: mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, Alp high -8*C, light east winds, FZL 1300m

Fri: mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, Alp high -5*C, light south winds, FZL 1600m

Sat: mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, Alp high -4*C, light south winds, FZL 1800m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.