Avalog
Register
Get forecast notifications
Create an account to receive email notifications when forecasts are published.
Register
Login
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 26th, 2023–Apr 27th, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
4: High
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

Regions: Glacier.

Warm temperatures will produce large avalanches, avoid avalanche terrain in the heat of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous moist/wet, loose surface avalanches have been observed from steep gullies/slopes on all aspects at and below treeline. These point releases gather substantial mass as they move downslope into warmer snow.

As the week continues to warm up, expect these wet/loose avalanches to increase in size and potentially step down to deep layers, possibly even the Nov 17 facets.

Snowpack Summary

5cm of new snow sits over a crust at upper treeline and alpine except for high north aspects. Below this are several buried crusts on solar aspects which may provide a failure plane for slab avalanches as temps rise dramatically today.

Below treeline the snowpack is moist and has been weakened by rain and warm temperatures.

20-40cm above the ground the Nov 17 basal weakness can still be found in many areas.

Weather Summary

A strong ridge of high pressure is delivering very warm temperatures with high freezing levels and sunny skies.

Thurs: sun w/ cloudy periods, Alp high 2 °C, light west winds, FZL 2800m

Fri: sunny skies, Alp high 9°C, light west winds, FZL 3400m

Sat: mix of sun and cloud, Alp high 11°C, light southwest winds, FZL 3600m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

Avalanche Problems

Loose Wet

With intense solar heating the surface snow will quickly loose what little strength was recovered overnight and during yesterdays snowfall. Loose wet avalanches will be easily triggered in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Up to 60cm of settled snow covers a series of crusts combined with surface hoar/facets in some locations. Loose wet avalanches in motion have the potential to step down to these layers, creating large avalanches.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The increasing warmth and rain is percolating deeper into the snowpack. The potential for this early season basal weakness to wake up increases with these two added inputs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 4.5