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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 21st, 2021–Feb 22nd, 2021

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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Glacier.

Avalanche danger may reach EXTREME in the overnight period with forecast extreme winds and ongoing snowfall.

Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain today and tomorrow.

Weather Forecast

Zonal flow sets up over BC today, bringing moderate to heavy snow and strong to extreme southwesterly winds to Glacier Park.

Today:  10cm snow. Winds SW 35-55km/h gusting to >100km/h. Freezing level  1400m.

Tonight: 17cm snow. Winds SW 35 gusting to 100km/h. Freezing level  1200m.

Monday: 9cm. Winds W 25 gusting to 65km/h. Freezing level 1400m.

Snowpack Summary

Strong south winds and up to 10cm of snow overnight. The Feb 14 drought interface is now down 30-50cm in sheltered areas; this interface is predominantly a wind crust in exposed areas near the height of the pass, and buried windslabs and facets as you move East and West. Facets, and a weak suncrust still linger down ~80cm at the Jan. 24th PWL.

Avalanche Summary

Large natural avalanches started occurring yesterday afternoon and continue today, from steep, alpine features. Skier triggering of small slab avalanches was also observed yesterday from steep lee features at treeline.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.