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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2021–Mar 26th, 2021

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

If you haven't had your powder fix, hurry up and get out there, freezing levels are creeping up. Watch for isolated pockets of wind slab in lee features in exposed alpine terrain. Recent snow may become increasingly sensitive to triggering if the sun comes out Friday.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: Scattered flurries. Light wind. Alpine high temperatures around -6. Freezing level valley bottom.

Friday: Mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate westerly wind. Alpine high temperatures around -2. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday: Sunny. Moderate westerly wind. Alpine high temperatures around 0. Freezing level 2300 m.

Sunday: 25-50mm of rain. Strong southwest wind. Alpine high temperatures around 0. Freezing level 2400 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday the only avalanche activity reported was loose dry sluffing with skier traffic on steep northerly aspects. Explosive control work on Monday and Tuesday produced mainly size 1 loose dry avalanches and a few thin size 1-1.5 storm slabs showing minimal cohesion and propagation.

A large (size 2) glide slab occurred overnight Friday on a lower elevation slope on Mt. Fernie. It may have been coaxed into action by overnight rainfall. This serves as a great reminder to avoid slopes with glide cracks on them at all times. They are inherently unstable and can release at any time.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm of new snow has been accumulating incrementally over recent days. Depending on the time of day, moist snow or a crust can be found on solar aspects and below 1700 m. Isolated, soft wind slabs can be found in lee features of wind exposed alpine terrain. The snowpack is otherwise well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.