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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2019–Mar 19th, 2019

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

Regions

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Three days of above freezing temperatures are driving big changes in the mountain snowpack. Be patient and let the mountains make this transition. Steer away from open steep open slopes and don’t linger in areas where avalanches can run and stop especially late in the day when natural avalanche activity may peak.

Discussion

Snow and Avalanche Discussion

This stretch of very warm weather continues Tuesday. After nearly six weeks of below average temperatures, daytime highs in the lowlands are breaking records. That’s a big change for the snowpack and it’s struggling to make the adjustment.

Avalanche observations continue to trickle in from around the region. Most reports have been natural and human triggered loose wet avalanches. That’s not a surprise with the recent warming. What is interesting are the few wet slab avalanches. Notably, a large wet slab avalanche was reported on NWAC’s public observation page. Crystal Mt Ski Patrol also reported a few wet slabs triggered with explosives as part of their mitigation efforts. While none of these are widespread, they could be an early indication that wet slab conditions are developing.

During spring periods like this, plan for changing conditions. Slopes you travel on in the morning can be very different by mid-day. Be leery of traveling near or under cornices. They are experiencing the stress of this heat too and may fail without warning.

Snowpack Discussion

New Regional Synopsis Coming Soon

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.

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.