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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2012–Mar 6th, 2012

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Flurries are expected to end today and skies should clear by dinner time causing overnight temperatures to drop below freezing in the valley bottoms. Tuesday is forecast to be sunny with light northwest winds at ridgetops. Alpine temperatures should stay close to -10.0 in the afternoon. Steep solar aspects may see some moist snow at treeline. High pressure is expected to continue to dominate the area on Wednesday causing continued clear skies and light northerly winds. Clear skies are forecast to continue on Thursday morning. The wind is expected to veer to the southwest by the afternoon, and the freezing level may rise up to about 2200 metres in advance of the next system moving in from the Pacific.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Sunday were limited to small avalanches size 1-1.5 from all aspects. I suspect that we will get some reports later today when the skies clear and visibility improves.

Snowpack Summary

The freezing level went up to about 1500 metres on Sunday during a period of strong southwest winds and heavy precipitation. There is moist snow up to about 1700-1800 metres. Windslabs have developed in the alpine and at treeline on North through East aspects. The heaviest snowfalls coincided with the cooling phase as the cold front moved across the region. There was a weak layer of buried stellars earlier in the week that was giving moderate sudden planar shears. This layer is now buried between 60-90 cm. Areas in the south of the region that are nearer to the coast received significantly more precipitation over the weekend.

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.

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.