Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 5th, 2022–Apr 6th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Rockies.

Keep an eye on the snow surface, as it becomes moist from solar input the size and likelihood of avalanches will increase.

Confidence

Moderate - We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow and moderate west winds. Low of -8 at 2000 m.

Wednesday: Sunny with no new snow expected and moderate west winds. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Thursday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Moderate to strong westerly winds and freezing levels rising to 2500 m.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of snow to the alpine and rain below. Strong southwest winds and freezing levels around 2500 m.

Avalanche Summary

We suspect new rider triggerable wind slabs can be found in exposed terrain at treeline and above. As the sun comes out wet loose avalanches will likely be observed in steep terrain on all sun exposed slopes.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slabs exist on exposed alpine and treeline terrain. A crust exists on or near the surface on all aspects to around 2500 m and likely to mountain top on sun affected slopes. Moist snow will likely be observed at lower elevations and on all sun exposed slopes.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and bonded.

Terrain and Travel

Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
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.

Problems

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.

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.

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.