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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2022–Mar 13th, 2022

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead.

Continue to assess the wind slab hazard as you move through terrain.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: no new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and a low of -3 at 1600m.

Sunday: cloudy with flurries bringing up to 10cm of snow and light westerly winds. Freezing levels rising to 1800m. 

Monday: stormy with up to 20cm of new snow expected with moderate to strong southwest ridgetop winds. High of -1 at 1600m.

Tuesday: stormy with up to 15cm of new snow at higher elevations. Moderate to strong southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1700m.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday one sled triggered size two slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was triggered in an open treeline feature on a west aspect and is believed to have failed on the late January layer.

On Tuesday a group of skiers remotely triggered a slab avalanche on an east aspect near ridgetop. We suspect it failed on facets above a crust. Wind loading above this layer was a factor.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab in exposed treeline and alpine terrain from southwest winds. Moist snow could be observed below treeline.

A crust from earlier this month exists down 10 to 20cm on south aspects and below 1800m. A more substantial crust from the start of March is down 30cm in the southern part of the region.

The late January surface hoar layer is down around 100cm.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

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.