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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2019–Apr 12th, 2019

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

Regions

South Columbia.

As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will become moist and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs in alpine lee features may still be reactive to human triggering.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Clear with cloudy periods and isolated flurries / light northeast wind / freezing level 800 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1800 mSATURDAY: Cloudy / 10-20 cm snow accumulation / moderate to strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1700 mSUNDAY: Cloudy / up to 10 cm snow accumulation / light to moderate southwest wind / alpine high temperature -7 C / freezing level 1500 m

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, no natural avalanche activity was reported. A human triggered wind slab avalanche of size 1.5 on a north aspect at treeline was observed in the south of the region.On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 10-50 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects in the alpine. A size 1.5 explosive triggered cornice did not trigger an avalanche on the northeast facing slope below. Several natural loose wet and wet slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported from southeast, south, west and northwest facing slopes (see a MIN report from Glacier National Park).

Snowpack Summary

Last week’s unsettled weather produced 20-50 cm of snow that sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north facing slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals). On northern aspects the new snow is slowly bonding and humans might still trigger wind slab avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.

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.

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.