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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2022–Apr 11th, 2022

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, 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.

Regions

South Coast.

The danger may increase during the heat of the day.

Confidence

High - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 20 to 30 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -4 C.

MONDAY: Mostly clear skies with no precipitation, 20 to 40 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature 0 C, freezing level 1200 m.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, 20 to 40 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -4 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 20 km/h east wind, treeline temperature -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

This MIN describes loose wet activity out a steep gully near Sky Pilot, albeit many days old. No other avalanche observations were noted on Sunday. 

Looking forward, use caution on sun-exposed slopes and near cornices during the heat of the day, when resulting avalanches are more likely.

Observations are limited at this time of year, so please consider posting to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A thin layer of dry snow may be found above a hard melt-freeze crust. The snow surface may moist during the heat of the day, particularly on sun-exposed slopes. At ridgetop, cornices are large and looming.

Various melt-freeze crusts are found in the upper and middle of the snowpack, which have not produced recent avalanches. The remainder of the snowpack is strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

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.