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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2020–Mar 30th, 2020

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

Lizard-Flathead.

This forecast lacks field observations and has lots of uncertainty. This will be the last avalanche forecast of the season. Reactive wind slabs remain the primary concern, especially around ridge features and wind loaded terrain.

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm. Alpine low temperature -6 C. Moderate southwest wind. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday: Flurries and snow, 5-10 cm. Alpine high temperature -1 C. Moderate southwest wind gusting to strong. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday: Flurries and snow, 10-15 cm. Alpine high temperature -5 C. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday: Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm. Alpine high temperature -9 C. Moderate southwest wind. Freezing level 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

We have very limited field observations at this time. There have be no new avalanches reported in the region.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been impacted by wind and warm temperatures. Cold, dry snow persists at higher elevations and consists of a variety of wind affected surfaces. A crust has formed on steep solar slopes and below 1700 m. 

A layer of faceted grains down 30 to 60 cm overly a melt-freeze crust from early February. The base of the snowpack may contain a weak layer of faceted grains that are most prominent in shallow rocky start zones with a snowpack depth of 150 cm or less.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.