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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2024–Apr 13th, 2024

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

Regions

Purcells, Dogtooth, East Purcell.

Daytime heating will cause heightened danger, especially on sun-exposed slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few size 1 to 2 wind slab avalanches have been reported in alpine terrain over the past week.

Looking forward, we expect wet loose avalanches as skies clear and the freezing level rises. Small wind slabs may still be possible along ridgetops.

Snowpack Summary

Warm sunny weather will melt and weaken surface snow everywhere except for north-facing slopes above roughly 2400 m. Surface melting will occur rapidly on sun-exposed slopes.

Weak layers deeper in the snowpack have shown signs of strengthening and are no longer a concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

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.