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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2022–Mar 31st, 2022

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Conditions may change quickly with rain or strong solar input. Be ready to scale back your exposure to avalanche terrain if the surface crust breaks down.

Cautious route-finding will be important at upper elevations as wind slabs may be reactive to human triggering.

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength. Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with flurries in the north of the north, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Partially cloudy in the south. Freezing level dropping to around 500 m. 15-35 km/h northwesterly winds.

THURSDAY: Partially cloudy, isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1300 m. 10-30 km/h northwesterly winds.

FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy, flurries in the afternoon. Freezing level rising to 1500 m/ 10-25 km/h southwest winds.

SATURDAY: Partially cloudy with isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1600 m. 10-20 km/h southwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday in the north of the region, several size 1-2 natural wind slabs were observed in the alpine. Throughout the region, a widespread wet loose/wet slab avalanche cycle occurred at all elevations up to size 3. The most reactivity was noted on solar aspects.  

A widespread wet loose/slab natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 occurred on Monday on all aspects and elevations.

The last persistent slab avalanches observed in the region were during the warm-up on March 23rd and 24th.This layer is expected to become dormant after being tested by significant warming followed by cooling temperatures. 

Snowpack Summary

5 to 15 cm of new snow overlies 10-20 cm of denser snow above 2000 m. Southwest winds may form small wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine and treeline. A crust or moist snow can be found below the new snow on all aspects below 2500m. Below the crust, the top 10-30 cm of the snowpack is moist.

Several other layers exist in the upper snowpack, that have shown no recent reactivity.

Terrain and Travel

  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Problems

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

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.

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.