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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2024–Mar 27th, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Spring convective flurries and moderate winds have created a new windslab in the Alpine and some areas at Treeline. Use caution at ridgetop or exposed/cross loaded areas.

A deep persistent weak layer remains in the snowpack, avoid thin rocky areas where triggering this layer will be more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday a size 1 wind slab was reported near the summit of Mt Rogers. No other avalanches have been observed or reported in the Park for several days.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is not quite into the spring freeze/thaw cycle yet, it's mostly just stuck on freeze. Expect a robust surface crust on all aspects below 1700m making for difficult travel. Above this elevation north facing slopes still hold up to 15cm of dry snow.

A weak layer formed on March 9th is down ~30cm and the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer remains a concern at 80-140cm deep. The lower snowpack is well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

We'll experience unsettled weather this week, with potential for convective flurries. A frontal system brings light snowfall Thursday/Friday.

Wed: Mainly cloudy with flurries. Snow: 1-2cms, alpine temp: high -4 °C moderate SW winds, FZL 1600m

Thurs: Cloudy with sunny periods, Snow: 1-2cms, alpine low -4 °C, winds: SW 20-35km/hr, FZL 1900m

Fri: Cloudy, possible flurries. snow: 4cm, alpine high -4 °C, FZL 1700m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • Remember that the snowpack will be significantly different at higher elevations than lower down.

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.