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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2022–Apr 14th, 2022

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Conditions are generally safe, but there are still isolated hazards from cornices and wind slabs.

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear skies, no precipitation, 20 km/h wind from the east, treeline temperatures drop to -15 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing cloud in the afternoon, no precipitation, light wind from the east, treeline temperatures warm to -8 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, isolated flurries with trace amounts of snow, light wind, treeline temperatures warm to -6 C.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the east, treeline temperatures warm to -4 C.

Avalanche Summary

A few large cornice failures (size 2) were reported on Monday and Tuesday. There were also a few small (size 1) human-triggered wind slab avalanches in alpine terrain (see photos of this remotely-triggered wind slab from Wednesday).

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of recent snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2200 m and up to mountain tops on solar aspects. Recent northeast wind has formed wind slabs on lee aspects below ridgetops. Another prominent crust layer is found 40 to 80 cm deep.

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

Problems

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.