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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2024–Apr 7th, 2024

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

Purcells, Esplanade, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell.

Recent snow and wind have developed isolated wind slabs at treeline and above. As you transition into open terrain, look for signs of instability, like shooting cracks.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several small explosive-triggered wind slabs and size 1 to 1.5 wet loose from steep solars on Friday.

On Thursday, a few size 1 skier-triggered wind slab avalanches were reported in the Golden area.

Even short windows of sun coupled with rising freezing levels may initiate wet, loose avalanches on steep solar-facing slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 20 to 25 cm of accumulated new snow is settling and could become moist on steep south-facing slopes. This new snow overlies a crust on all aspects and elevations that are more robust on solar-facing slopes.

A widespread crust with facets above is down 60 to 110 cm. This layer is unlikely to human trigger in areas where a thick crust above the weak layer is present.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, isolated flurries, 1 to 3 cm. 5 to 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4° C.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy, isolated flurries 1 to 2 cm. 10 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy, with trace accumulations, 10 to 15 km/h southwest winds. Treeline temperatures -2° C. Freezing levels 1800 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries 2 to 3 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperatures -2° C, Freezing levels 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

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.