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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2022–Mar 6th, 2022

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

Regions

North Rockies.

Evaluate conditions as you change aspect and elevation. 

Wet avalanches are possible on sun affected slopes, and wind slabs remain a concern at higher elevations.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with moderate northwest winds. Freezing levels below valley bottom. Chance of isolated flurries.

SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with gusty strong westerly winds. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m with an alpine high of -2 expected.

MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with up to 10cm possible, light northerly winds. Freezing levels around 800 m. Alpine high of -5.

TUESDAY: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries possible. Light northerly winds. Freezing levels below valley bottom with alpine highs of -12. 

Avalanche Summary

Mild sunny weather will likely continue to cause some wet loose avalanches on south-facing slopes and cornice failures along ridgelines.  

There have also been a few small (size 1-1.5) human triggered slabs on north and east facing slopes over the past few days. These slabs have been in the top 20 to 30 cm of recent snow.

Snowpack Summary

Soft snow may be found on sheltered north-facing slopes, but otherwise the surface has a mix of sun crusts on south-facing slopes, wind-affected snow in the alpine, and moist/crusty snow at lower elevations. 

See the North Rockies field team's recent post from Renshaw for some photos. The mid and lower snowpack are reportedly strong and well bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating.

Problems

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.

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.