Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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
Glacier.
The likelihood of natural avalanches will increase today with incoming snowfall and steady winds.
Weather Forecast
Clashing frontal systems will deliver 13cm of snow to Rogers Pass today and 15 cm of snow tonight. Today's ridge winds are SW 25-45 km/hr, with an alpine high of -4.0 and freezing levels climbing to 1400m. A slight break in precipitation is expected for Saturday as strong winds back to the NW. Another 9cm of snow is expected for Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
8cm of new snow overnight bringing this week's total to 93cm at 1900m. Storm snow is settling into a soft slab and is more cohesive along ridge lines and lee features from ongoing SW winds. There are weak, poorly bonded interfaces in the upper 50cm of the storm snow. Several persistent surface hoar layers from January are buried over 100cm.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed yesterday. An Avalanche Canada MIN report has an excellent description and photos of a large avalanche that occurred in Loop Brook during Monday's widespread natural avalanche cycle.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.