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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2022–Feb 24th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

Rider triggered avalanches are possible at moderate hazard.  Test for reactivity of lingering wind slabs and a mid-February persistent weak layer.

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are gradually warming, bringing some clouds and isolated flurries, a storm is approaching on Saturday.

Tonight: Cloudy possible flurries, -19*C, light N winds

Thurs: Sun and cloud, Alp high -13*C, light NW winds

Fri: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high -14*C, light SW winds

Sat: Mix of sun/cloud and flurries, Alp high -11*C, light SW winds

Snowpack Summary

Lingering and reactive windslabs from strong Nly winds exist at all elevations in open, exposed terrain. Cold temps are working to soften these slabs. The Feb 15 surface hoar/solar crust is down 50-80cm and most problematic at and below Treeline.

Avalanche Summary

We observed natural avalanches on Tuesday up to size 2.5. These were mostly wind slabs, with a couple solar triggered avalanches.

Numerous public reports this week of human triggered avalanches failing below surface wind slabs and on the Feb 15 SH/Crust layer. Size 2 partial burial on Avalanche Crest, Vaux Moraine, wind slabs on Cougar Creek East.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

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.

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.