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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2020–Mar 18th, 2020

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

Regions

South Coast.

Watch for unstable snow on sun-exposed slopes and steep wind-affected terrain. 

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

A high pressure system brings clear dry conditions for the week.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light north wind, freezing level drops to 1400 m, treeline temperatures drop to +2 C.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny, light north wind, freezing level remains steady around 1500 m with treeline temperatures reaching +4 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, light south wind, treeline temperatures around +4 C, freezing level around 1500 m.

FRIDAY: Sunny, light south wind, treeline temperatures around +4 C, freezing level around 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend a few wind slab avalanches were human triggered, including a size 2 slab on a northeast slope on Brunswick Mtn, a size 1 slab on a west slope on the Lions, and a size 1 slab on a southeast slope in Tetrahedron.

Looking forward, loose wet avalanche activity and cornice falls could be triggered with the ongoing warming trend. The potential of triggering wind slab avalanches remains possible in steep alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions are highly variable with a mix of crusts, moist snow, and hard wind slabs. In sheltered terrain, about 30 cm of settled snow may overly a melt-freeze crust and potentially small surface hoar crystals.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-settled. The snowpack depth varies from around 300-400 cm around 1200 to 1400 m and tapers rapidly with elevation, with no snow below 700 m.

Terrain and Travel

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.