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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2021–Apr 4th, 2021

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Carefully assess for slab properties in the recent snow at high elevations. The danger is likely LOW anywhere that received less than 10 cm from Saturday's storm.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm in the north of the region and 10 to 20 cm in the south, 40 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, 20 km/h north wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level rising to 1400 m.

MONDAY: Clear skies, 10 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level rising to 2200 m.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, 10 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 2200 m.

Avalanche Summary

Small storm and wind slab avalanches may have been triggerable on Saturday and into the night anywhere sufficient snow accumulated. This snow may remain reactive to human traffic on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

You may find anywhere from 5 to 15 cm of snow accumulation by Sunday morning above around 1800 m. The snow fell onto a hard melt-freeze crust everywhere except perhaps wind-affected snow on high elevation north aspects. The snow fell with strong southwest wind, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features at treeline and alpine elevations. Below the rain-snow line, expect to find wet snow or a hard melt-freeze crust.

Cornices are large and looming along ridgelines. Their release is unpredictable, requiring a large berth if you're travelling above or below them.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.

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.

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.