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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 26th, 2022

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

Regions

Glacier.

Monday's midnight moisture might make moving messy below Treeline, while winter weather and wind slabs whiten the wilderness above.

Start and finish early to maximize your travel time on solid surface crusts.

Weather Forecast

Snow/rain tonight will prevent a solid crust recovery below treeline, with freezing levels (FZL) hovering near 1800m. Unsettled wx through Thurs

Tonight: Rain/Snow, 15cm, Alpine low -4*C, FZL 1800m, mod SW wind

Tues: Flurries with sun/cloud, trace amounts, Alp high -3*C, FZL 1800m, light W wind

Wed: Sun/cloud, Alp high -5*C, FZL 1500m, light SW winds

Snowpack Summary

There are 2 snowpacks in the region at the moment. Below 2000m exists a firm Spring-time melt-freeze snowpack that is solid in the am, then breaking down with daytime warming. Above 2000m, a winter snowpack dominates, with several crusts in the upper pack, wind slabs on lee Alpine features, and dry powder on high, sheltered, N'ly slopes.

Avalanche Summary

Strong solar input and warm temps caused a loose wet cycle to size 2.5 this weekend. On Friday a notable size 3 slab avalanche from Avalanche Crest was observed at Treeline, W aspect (suspected to be windslab on the April 18th crust).

The warmth over the weekend also helped several glide slabs to avalanche.

Confidence

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

Problems

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.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.