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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2024–Apr 12th, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Good winter skiing can be found on true northerly aspects in the Alpine and upper Tree-line. Elsewhere expect to find challenging travel, with a variety of crusts capping a thinning snowpack.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Thursday, a field team observed two remotely triggered size 1 storm slabs above the Bonney Moraines on E aspects, failing on the Apr 9th crust.

There were several large (up to size 3) avalanches observed in the highway corridor in recent days - storm slabs suspected to be failing on the April 9th crust.

Wednesday, a field team in the Christiana Ridge zone was able to ski-control moist storm slabs on steep solar aspects, sliding on the April 9 melt/freeze crust.

Snowpack Summary

In the Alpine and high Tree-line, 20-30cm of settling snow sits over a firm crust on solar aspects and well settled dry snow on northerly aspects.

At tree line the snow depth is at a record low of around 220cm. The Feb 3rd crust/facet layer persists at upper elevations, buried down 80-140cm.

Below tree line is a well-settled spring snowpack with a strong surface crust that will break down during the heat of the day.

Weather Summary

Unsettled weather overnight into Friday, with a slight improving trend for the weekend.

Tonight: Cloudy, flurries (up to 5cm). Alpine low -2°C, freezing level (FZL) 1600m. Light S ridgetop winds.

Fri: Mixed sun/cloud, isolated flurries. High 1°C, FZL 2100m. Gusty mod SW winds.

Sat: Mix sun/cloud. Low -2 °C, High 3 °C, FZL 2400m. Gusty strong SW winds.

Sun: Mix sun/cloud. Low -1 °C, High 4 °C, FZL 2400m. Light SW wind.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.