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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2022–Mar 23rd, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Elevated freezing levels mean that wet loose avalanches and natural cornice falls are likely to continue.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow at higher elevation with moderate to strong south-southwest winds. Freezing level around 1700 m.

Wednesday: Cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow at higher elevations. Strong southerly winds . Freezing level around 1700 m during the day then falling to 1000m in the evening.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected. Light variable winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.

Friday: Cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of snow. Moderate south-southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1800 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday a natural cornice fall triggered a size three slab avalanche on the slope below. This avalanche was triggered at 1800 m on a northeast aspect, it ran full path. Several other cornice falls were reported throughout the region.

Ski cutting and explosive control produced storm and wind slab avalanches up to size two.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs can be found on north and east aspects in the alpine. Moist snow will likely be observed on all aspects and elevations. As the freezing level begins to drop a crust will likely form on all aspects and elevations.

40 to 90 cm overlies the mid March layer. This layer presents as surface hoar in shady, wind-sheltered areas and a hard melt-freeze crust on all aspects below 1700 m and on sun-exposed slopes into the alpine. No avalanche activity has taken place on this layer recently and observations suggest the slab above is well bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

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.

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.