Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 14th, 2019–Apr 15th, 2019

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

Regions

South Columbia.

New snow has accumulated at upper elevations along with westerly winds. Use caution around ridge crests and lee terrain features, where deposits will be most reactive.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm snow / west wind, 10-20 km/h / alpine low -7 C / freezing level valley bottomMONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm / west wind, 10-15 km/h / alpine high 0 C / freezing level 1700 m TUESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, 5 cm snow / southwest wind, 10-15 gusting to 45 km/h / alpine high +2 C / freezing level 1900 mWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm snow accumulation / west wind, 20 gusting to 50 km/h / alpine low -7 C / freezing level 2100 m

Avalanche Summary

Late Saturday, storm snow was sluffing in steep terrain with skier traffic and gaining cohesion.On Friday morning, a size 2 storm slab was observed in a wind-loaded pocket on a west aspect in the alpine.On Wednesday, a skier triggered wind slab avalanche of size 1.5 on a north aspect at treeline was reported in the south of the region.On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 10-50 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects in the alpine. A size 1.5 explosive triggered cornice did not trigger an avalanche on the northeast facing slope below. Several natural loose wet and wet slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported from southeast, south, west and northwest facing slopes (see a MIN report from Glacier National Park).

Snowpack Summary

5-20 cm snow accumulated above 1600 m on Sunday along with westerly winds. On most aspects this covers a melt-freeze crust; on north facing slopes in the alpine, new snow fell over the recent 20-50 cm wind-affected snow and, in isolated locations buried surface hoar. Older wind slabs sitting on surface hoar might still be sensitive to human triggers.Below treeline snow is disappearing rapidly.

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.