Avalanche Forecast
North Columbia
Wind slabs can be found on leeward slopes near ridge crests, while moist or wet snow is a concern on sunny and lower elevation slopes. Also be wary of large cornices that can become weak with warming.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Sluffs may be easy to trigger in steep terrain that is sheltered from the wind
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Warming temperatures and a bit of sun may destabilize the snow surface and initiate loose wet avalanche activity, especially on steep south facing features. The likelihood of cornice failures also increases with sun and warming.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where loose avalanches may have severe consequences.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating. Give them a wide berth when traveling above or below.
Avalanche Summary
Thursday there were reports from Glacier National Park of a loose wet size 2 on a south aspect at 2100 m, and a size 4 wind slab that occurred overnight and is thought to have been cornice triggered on a north aspect at 2800 m.
Wednesday there was a report of a natural cornice failure that resulted in a size 2.5 wind slab release (50 cm deep and 200 m wide) on a northeast aspect at 2600 m, north of Glacier National Park.
On Tuesday in the neighboring Glacier National Park, all aspects were involved as natural loose wet avalanches ran size 2.5 to 3 between 1950 and 2700 m.
Loose wet avalanches to size 2 were reported from all aspects between 1000 and 2300 m Monday. In the neighboring Glacier National Park, loose wet avalanches to size 3 were reported from solar (south and west) aspects to size 3 between 2000 and 2300 m. A size 1.5 storm slab was ski cut from a northwest facing feature at 2400 m illustrating that isolated storm/wind slabs are still in play at upper elevations.
Snowpack Summary
A thin surface crust is now present on all aspects to at least 2300 m. This crust likely goes even higher on south facing aspects, while 10-15 cm of cold snow can still be found on high elevation northerly facing features.
There are now a few different crusts in the upper 50 cm of the snowpack, with only the most recently buried crust posing a concern in wind-loaded areas.
There is some lingering concern around the mid-March Persistent Weak Layer (PWL) in the alpine where it is found 60 to 110 cm below the surface. This buried crust/surface hoar interface was widely reactive last week, but has not produced any avalanche activity in the last few days. It is likely trending towards dormancy, but we need to keep it in the back of our minds as it is capable of producing large avalanches should it be triggered (think step-down from a surface avalanche or a cornice collapse).
Deeper persistent weak layers from December and January are dormant at this time.
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Flurries, clearing. Accumulation 2-5 cm. Ridge wind light to moderate, west. Alpine temperature near -6. Freezing level 500 m.
FRIDAY: Increasing cloud and flurries. Accumulation 2-5 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1600 m. Flurries or snow overnight.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-15 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, southeast. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.
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Recent snow and wind have formed touchy wind slabs in immediately lees near ridge crests on northerly alpine terrain and exposed treeline features.