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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2022–Mar 21st, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

 Carefully assess the wind slab hazard as you move through terrain. New wind slabs could build through the day. 

Confidence

Moderate - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

Sunday night: around 5 cm of new snow expected with moderate to strong southwest winds. Low of -3 at 1500 m.

Monday: cloudy with around 5 cm of new snow expected and moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.

Tuesday: cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow at higher elevations. Strong southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 2100 m.

Wednesday: cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Freezing levels falling to 1800 m. strong southwest winds in the morning trending to light in the evening.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday one natural cornice failure was observed in the north of the region. It did not pull a slab on the slope below. A few storm slabs up to size 2 were observed on east aspects at treeline in the south of the region.

Several glide slab avalanches up to size three have been reported over the past few days in the southern part of the region.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slab can be found on north and east aspects. a melt-freeze crust from mid March exists down 20 to 40 cm on all aspects below 1500 m. multiple crusts exist on solar aspects.  

Moist snow could be observed at lower elevations.

In the north of the region, a crust/facet interface from February sits 40 to 80 cm deep and had been most problematic on north to northeast aspects around 1900-2100 m. This layer is currently considered dormant.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • 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.