Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 14th, 2019–Apr 15th, 2019

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Columbia.

Fresh snow has accumulated at upper elevations along with southwesterly winds. Use caution around ridge crests and lee terrain features, where deposits will be most reactive and may also hide older, recently formed wind slabs.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods / west wind, 10-20 km/h / alpine low -7 C / freezing level 900 mMONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation / southwest wind, 10-15 km/h / alpine high -5 C / freezing level 1600 mTUESDAY: Cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated flurries, trace accumulation / south-southwest wind, 15-30 km/h / alpine high -3 C / freezing level 1800 mWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation / west wind, 10-20 gusting to 50 km/h / alpine high 0C / freezing level 2100 m

Avalanche Summary

Late Saturday, storm snow was sluffing in steep terrain with skier traffic and gaining cohesion.On Thursday, a few human triggered loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were observed on steep slopes in the afternoon. Evidence of a solar-induced wet slab cycle on west aspect around 2400 m was reported on Friday.On Wednesday the avalanche activity decreased. A few natural and human triggered wind/storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on west and north aspects at treeline and in the alpine.On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 20-40 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects. Two of these were remotely triggered, one by humans and another one by a helicopter. A layer of small surface hoar below the most recent snow may have been the weak layer. Several natural wet slab and loose wet avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from south and west aspects (see a MIN report from Glacier National Park).

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm snow accumulated above 1600 m Sunday, westerly winds are redistributing fresh snow. On most aspects this covered a melt-freeze crust; on north facing slopes in the alpine, new snow fell over the recent 25-60 cm wind-affected snow and, in isolated locations buried surface hoar. Older wind slabs sitting on surface hoar might still be sensitive to human triggers.Below treeline snow is disappearing rapidly.

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.