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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2023–Apr 8th, 2023

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

Regions

Glacier.

High uncertainty in the ever-changing weather forecast!

Be prepared to change your plans over the next few days and keep a vigilant eye for changing conditions in the field.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Small loose moist snowballing on all aspects treeline and below today.

Yesterday (Thursday) a group boot-packing on Grizzly Mountain triggered a size 2.0 windslab in a variable snowpack depth area.

On Wednesday, a skier triggered, size 1 on a SE aspect in the alpine behind Mt Bonney. This was a thin slab (~15cm) above a crevasse. A natural cornice fall avalanche sz 2.5 also occurred off Mt Bonney, MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Expect a breakable surface crust on solar aspects and dry snow on polar aspects. 15-20cm of settled snow is covering the March 31st which is a solid crust on solar aspects and isolated surface hoar/facets on polar aspects.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong. However, the basal weakness from November can still be found near the ground in many locations. Be ready for this layer to wake-up in the next few days.

Weather Summary

An upper trough brings flurries tonight, with an Atmospheric River poised to arrive Sunday and stall over the Interior Monday.

Tonight: Flurries 11cm. Alpine low -6°C. Moderate SW wind. FZL 1300m

Sat: Flurries 6cm, Alp high -4°C, mod gusting strong SW wind. FZL 1800m

Sun: Snow 19cm. Alp Low -5 °C, High -2 °C. Mod gusting strong SW wind, FZL 1900m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
  • Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.