Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2021–Mar 3rd, 2021

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, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Check steep or confined lines for wind slab before committing. There remains potential for human triggered wind slabs on all aspects. As always, give cornices a wide berth from above and below.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

Weather Forecast

The northernmost reaches of the region will catch the fringe of a system bringing heavy precip to the central coast, accumulating 30-40mm by the end of the day Wednesday. Elsewhere in the region may see some flurries.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy with a few flurries. Freezing level 800 m. Strong southwesterly wind above 2500 m..

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with a few flurries. Freezing level 1300 m. Strong southerly wind above 2000 m.

Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level rising to 1700 m. Strong southerly wind.

Friday: 30-40 cm of new snow. Freezing level 1300 m. Strong southerly wind.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports since Saturday when natural and human triggered avalanche activity quieted down but cornices continued to be reactive to explosives size 2-2.5. Minor pinwheeling was observed on steep solar aspects in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

20 cm of snow sits over a layer that may consist of of facets, spotty surface hoar, and/or crusts on steep solar aspects and below 1500 m. Recent wind of varying direction has blown this snow into wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

A weak layer buried in mid-February is composed of a crust, facets or spotty surface hoar depending on elevation/aspect, and is now down 50-80 cm. There have been no recent avalanches reported on this layer. Large triggers, such as an avalanche in motion, cornice fall, or intense loading from snow, wind and/or a rapid rise in temperature could awaken these deeper weak layers.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.