Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2013–Apr 13th, 2013

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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies.

Due to a lack of information sources at this time of year, this forecast is based primarily on weather data. If you have been traveling in the backcountry recently, send us your observations. Email us at [email protected]

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observations for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Light to locally moderate precipitation possible through the overnight period Friday to Saturday with the passage of a cold front. Freezing level 1300m. Winds strong from the southwest switching to moderate west.Sunday and Monday: A broad upper trough of low pressure brings unsettled conditions. Mainly cloudy with the chance for light to locally moderate convective precipitation. Freezing level to remain at 1300m.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet or moist snow is expected to continue to release naturally from steep terrain or rocky areas at lower elevations if temperatures rise and the sun comes out.

Snowpack Summary

Overnight freezing has consolidated previously loose wet snow at treeline and above. Recent moderate winds may have developed windslabs at upper elevations. Surface crusts are expected to break down during the day and then re-freeze overnight. Moist or wet snow below treeline is not expected to have much of a recovery and may continue to be isothermal and weak.

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.