Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2021–Apr 5th, 2021

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Glacier.

New snow and wind changed conditions overnight on Wednesday. Carefully evaluate how the wind has loaded features before committing to them

Weather Forecast

A cold front is exiting this morning

Sun: 2cm snow, sky becoming scattered, high -2, freezing level 1800m, light W wind

Mon: Nil precipitation, high -1, freezing level 1800m, light SW wind

Tue: Trace precipitation, high 0, freezing level 1900m, light S wind

Snowpack Summary

15cm of new snow fell at treeline overnight, dwindling to rain below 1200m. Wind blasted surfaces exist below the new snow, suncrusts and meltfreeze conditions below treeline. Recent snow over the March 18th suncrust and surface hoar has settled significantly to about 70cm at treeline. Cornices are huge.

Avalanche Summary

A group triggered a size 2 in a shallow, wind loaded area on Saturday. The infrasound network detected an avalanche this morning from a N aspect. A group of skiers accidentally triggered a size 3 in the Teddy Bear Trees on Tuesday, this slab avalanche failed on the March 18th melt-freeze crust.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Sunday

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.

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.