Avalanche forecast

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A little more fresh snow accumulated overnight, with CBMR showing just shy of 4". Old wind slabs are still possible to human trigger today, while the spring-like weather will produce another round of wet avalanches. It's looking like another lovely day to get out in the mountains with a couple of avalanche problems to stay heads up on. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Friday Night westerly winds on Scarps Ridge at 12,000ft were blowing in the 20 to 30 mph range with gusts above 50 mph. At 11,000ft on Mt Crested Butte, those wind speeds averaged in the teens with gusts into the 20's. The alpine has since seen period wind speeds in the teens to 20's, but in general, winds have become light. The most suspect locations for lingering wind slabs will be above 11,500ft. Previously wind-loaded terrain will require some evaluation, though the avalanche problem will likely be thick and stubborn to human triggering. These slabs may become more reactive to triggering today during peak warming and when the upper snowpack is seeing rapid settlement. 

    An example of a small wind slab located on the lee side of a ridgeline earlier this winter. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5

    High temperatures at 10,000ft are forecasted to climb above 40 degrees, and at 11,000ft temperatures will climb into the upper 30's. These warm temperatures will combine with the strong April sun to kick off another round of wet loose avalanches. In general, these avalanches will be small in size and only entrain the recent snow that has accumulated over the last few days. These avalanches will be largest in size where there is more wet snow available, like near and above 11,000ft, and where the avalanches can run far through continued steep terrain accumulating additional mass. In a few of the most suspect areas, these avalanches could become large in size. Keep an eye on how much-wet snow you are traveling through and this will help you estimate the political avalanche size. You can avoid this avalanche problem by finishing your day early, or moving to colder aspects as snow surfaces heat up. 

    A typical wet loose avalanche that is relatively small and more predictable. These will grow larger today in bigger terrain and areas with more wet snow to entrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

The overnight ~4" on the CBMR Pow Cam is a bit of a nice surprise. Remote weather stations like Schofield Pass and Irwin are not showing the same amount of new snow overnight, but it's not that uncommon for those remote weather stations to not pick up on small changes like that. Either way, there is a little more snow to help freshen things up this morning.

We received reports of both skier-triggered wet loose and wind slab avalanches yesterday. You can see those under the observations tab. We can expect more of the same today. Below treeline, elevations will see wet avalanche activity today, though they are expected to be small in size and fit normal caution spring travel. If you find more than 4" of wet snow, and you are on a big sustained slope, then a wet avalanche could grow larger and become more hazardous. Backcountry skiers and riders will also likely be taking advantage of the better weather forecast today and getting up to higher elevations where evaluation for wind slabs will be necessary. 

Fairly normal spring conditions have developed in the backcountry around Crested Butte. Each time it snows and blows, we have another round of new snow avalanche problems to consider. Then when the sun comes out we see another round of wet snow avalanches as that recent snow transitions. Those conditions are expected today, and with more snow forecast for next week, the cycle will continue on down the road. 

This is the last daily forecast from the Crested Butte Avalanche Center for the 2022-2023 winter season. Our spring travel advice will be posted on the home page either this evening or early Monday morning. We will continue to update the observations page with any new information that comes in and we encourage everyone to keep sharing what they are seeing. There were a couple of great observations that came in just yesterday and there are few places in Colorado where such good information is regularly shared around the backcountry community. The CBAC will also do its best to keep a loose eye on conditions and send out updates if there are particularly dangerous avalanche conditions that set up later this spring. It has been another amazing winter here in Crested Butte and we can't thank you enough for all the amazing support that this avalanche center receives from you all. Have a wonderful spring and we sure hope to see you on the skin track!

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