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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 2nd, 2021–Apr 3rd, 2021

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies.

 Sunny skies and rising freezing levels will increase the likelihood of both wet loose avalanches and cornice failures throughout the day on Saturday. Avoid large alpine slopes facing the sun and slopes exposed to large cornices during the heat of the day. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

  

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear skies / Strong, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -3 / Freezing level 2300 m.

SATURDAY: Sunny / Light, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 7 / Freezing level 2400 m.

SUNDAY: Snow/rain; 5-10 mm. / Strong, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 4 / Freezing level 2000 m.

MONDAY: Sunny / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 6 / Freezing level 2300 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, naturally triggered wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on steep solar aspects in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

The 20-40 cm of recent storm snow appears to be bonding well to previous melt freeze crusts from mid March that were found on all but steep north facing alpine slopes. A crust that caps the snow surface on all but high north aspects has limited the snow available for transport (ie. wind slab formation) despite recent Strong southwesterly winds. Cornices are large and capable of triggering avalanches when they fail that a single rider on a slope would not trigger.

The mid-pack is firm and well settled. Some faceted snow and a decomposing melt-freeze crust can be found near the base of the snowpack. 

With rising freezing levels and sunny skies, the likelihood of wet loose avalanches and cornice failures will increase throughout the day as the snow becomes moist on all aspects at lower elevations and solar aspects at upper elevations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.