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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2022–Apr 12th, 2022

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.

Watch for small new wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. Ongoing northeast wind is expected to be causing reverse loading.

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations. Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Mainly cloudy with light flurries, moderate to strong northeast wind, treeline low around -15 °C.

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with light flurries and a chance of sunny breaks, moderate northeast wind, treeline high around -10 °C.

Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with light flurries and a chance of sunny breaks, light to moderate northeast wind, treeline high around -10 °C.

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks, light northeast wind, treeline high around -8 °C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the weekend. 

Observations are very limited this time of year. If you are getting out in the backcountry, please consider contributing to the Mountain Information Network.  

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snowfall has buried a widespread melt-freeze crust which formed during the major warming event at the end of last week. Periods of strong southwest wind on Saturday had formed reactive wind slabs which are now expected to have stabilized. Moderate to strong northeast wind on Monday and Tuesday is expected to be redistributing any remaining unconsolidated snow in exposed high elevation terrain forming small new wind slabs.

The middle and lower snowpack are currently well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.