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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 28th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Purcells.

With spring conditions, avalanche hazard can change quickly during periods of warming or from a blast of wet spring snow. Start early and keep track of any accumulating snowfall.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to limitations in the field data.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloud and isolated flurries trace to 5 cm, 15-25 km/h southwest wind, alpine low temperature -3 C. Freezing level dropping to 1700 m.

TUESDAY: Wet flurries, up to 10 cm. 15-30 km/h southwest wind, alpine high temperature +1 C, freezing level rising to 2000 m.

WEDNESDAY: Scattered flurries, 5-15 cm accumulation by morning. 25-35 km/h west wind alpine high temperature +6 C, daytime freezing level 1600 m.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest wind, alpine high temperature +3 C, daytime freezing level rising above 1900 m.

Avalanche Summary

With warm temperatures on Saturday and Sunday, numerous loose wet avalanches occured with daytime warm temperatures. In some cases, these wet loose avalanches triggered slabs to size 2, with 30 cm crown depths.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.

Snowpack Summary

Sun and warm temperatures have moistened the snow upwards of 2500 m and on all sun-exposed slopes. Cold, dry snow persists on north-facing aspects in the high alpine; in these areas use caution entering steep, and extreme terrain, where lingering wind slabs could be found. At ridge top, remember that cornices are large and looming.

Around 100 to 200 cm deep, faceted grains persist around a hard melt-freeze crust from early December. There's uncertainty on if and when this layer will wake up, but it could during the next intense or prolonged warm-up.

Terrain and Travel

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.