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 18th, 2014–Apr 19th, 2014

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

Regions

South Coast.

This bulletin was created using very limited field data. If you are out in the mountains, please send your observations to [email protected]

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Unsettled conditions are expected for Saturday morning before the next low pressure system hits the south coast Saturday afternoon or evening. Mainly overcast conditions and light precipitation are expected for Sunday and Monday. The system is tracking down the coast so there is some uncertainty as to how much precipitation will make it into the S. Coast Inland.Saturday: Precipitation 3-6mm, freezing level am: 1000m pm: 1700m, ridgetop wind: light increasing to moderate S-SWSat. Night: Precipitation 5-10mm, ridgetop wind: moderate-strong SWSunday: Precipitation 1-3mm, freezing level am: 1300m pm: 1700m, ridgetop wind: light-moderate S-SWSun. Night/Monday: Precipitation 3-6mm, freezing level am: 1500m pm: 2000m, ridgetop wind: moderate S-SW

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is sitting on a melt-freeze crust which exists on all aspects up to 2000m, and to mountain-top on solar aspects. The recent warmer temperatures have helped to strengthen and settled the upper snowpack, especially on solar aspects. The upper snowpack is expected be moist at treeline and wet/isothermal below treeline.  Where dry snow exists, recent SW winds have formed wind slab in leeward features. Large sagging cornices remain a concern, especially during periods of warming. The February crust/facet layer is now deeply buried 150-250 cm below the surface. This layer is mostly inactive at this time, but could re-awaken with extended warming, solar influence and large triggers like cornice fall.

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.

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.