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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2024–Feb 28th, 2024

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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.

Regions

Glacier.

Dangerous avalanche conditions, avoid all avalanche terrain.

40cm of new snow will over load a fragile snowpack that is already primed for human triggering.

Avalanche control planned for Wednesday, a good ski resort day.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday a group triggered a size 3 avalanche from ridge top at tree line in the camp west area failing on the Feb 3rd crust (see photos). Numerous other human triggered avalanches have been report throughout the region on this layer. Natural avalanche activity has tapered off since the weekend but will pick up again with the arriving weather on Wednesday.

On Sunday avalanche control produced numerous avalanches up to size 3.5, showing wide propagations on the crust.

Snowpack Summary

An additional 40-60cm of snow will pile up on Wednesday over the settling 60cm that fell last weekend. Strong winds in both storms formed deeper and more reactive pockets on leeward features. By Wednesday afternoon the reactive Feb 3rd crust will be over 100cm deep in most areas at tree line and alpine elevations.

The mid to lower snowpack is well settled, except in isolated areas of the alpine where an unusually thin & faceted snowpack exists.

Weather Summary

The second major storm in less than a week has arrived with heavy snowfall and strong winds, avalanche hazard will increase through the day on Wednesday.

Tonight: Flurries up to 7cm, moderate SW winds, low -17°C, freezing level (FZL) at valley bottom.

Wed: Storm day, snow - 30cm, strong SW winds, low -10°C rising to -5°C , FZL 1300m.

Thurs: Storm continues, snow 25cm, - 11°C, strong W winds, low -12°C, FZL 1400m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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.

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.