Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 17th, 2012–Apr 18th, 2012

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Glacier.

The hazard may change rapidly from better to worse with daytime warming. The potential for large avalanches failing to ground is possible, but the consequences will be big. Good skiing can still be found with careful planning.

Avalanche Problems

Loose Wet

The snowpack is near zero degrees, and very little warming is needed to create wet slushy avalanches, especially on solar aspects at lower elevations. These can gain mass rapidly.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Wet Slabs

The upper snowpack is now moist and isothermal to 2000m with a series of crusts in the top 90 cm. The crusts provide potential failure plains and good bed surfaces for avalanches. Recent large avalanches have been failing to the ground.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Cornices

There is good potential for cornice falls to produce large avalanches. Glide cracks are as big as crevasses, and are failing to ground. Some of these are bridged by snow and are hard to see.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 4