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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2021–Mar 21st, 2021

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

Regions

Glacier.

Winter has returned up high.

While it doesn't feel like we've received much snow in the parking lot, a conservative mid-winter storm mindset will be required to manage the hazard as you gain elevation.

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather through the weekend as a series of systems move through.

Today: Cloudy. Flurries (2-5cm). Alpine High -6C. Ridge wind light (gusting strong) SW. Freezing level (Fzl) 1500m.

Tonight: Isolated flurries. Low -11C. Light (strong gusts) W wind.

Sunday: Flurries (3-6cm). High -8C. Mod W wind. Fzl 1200m.

Monday: Flurries (2-4cm). Fzl 1300m.

Snowpack Summary

15-25 cm of new snow is covering a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, surface hoar on dry settled snow on polar aspects, and a moist upper snowpack at lower elevations. Moderate-strong alpine winds will increase slab characteristics in the new snow. Cornices are large and fragile, and may be triggered by the increased load from new snow and wind.

Avalanche Summary

Several glide slab avalanches were observed below treeline in the highway corridor on Friday.

A couple of loose wet snow avalanches, and one notable size 3 avalanche (in the Park One avalanche path) were triggered in the highway corridor by Thursday nights warm temps and rain.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.