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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2019–Apr 24th, 2019

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

Regions

South Columbia.

Lingering wind slabs may still be reactive to human triggers; especially on lee features below alpine ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with isolated alpine flurries; 1-3 cm / Light, westerly winds / Alpine low -3 C / Freezing level 1500 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high -1 C / Freezing level 1800 m.

THURSDAY: Sunny / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 2 C / Freezing level 2100 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated alpine flurries; 1-3 cm / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high -1 C / Freezing level 1800 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Monday. However, there are currently very few professional observers submitting daily observations. Please submit your observations to the MIN. Photos of avalanches or current conditions are particularly useful.

On Saturday, numerous natural loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on all aspects/elevations.

On Friday, Numerous loose wet and slab avalanches to size 2.5 on all aspects in the alpine were reported. Although not in this region, check out these two MINs from Saturday in Glacier National Park HERE. and HERE

Snowpack Summary

20-30 mm. of rain has soaked the snowpack at treeline and below. The rain/snow boundary on Friday was around 2200 m. New snow amounts in the alpine will taper rapidly with elevation and likely equate to around 15-25 cm of moist snow at upper elevations adding to the 20-40 cm recent snow which overlies a crust everywhere except high elevation, north facing terrain where preserved surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) may be present in isolated locations down 30-60 cm. A similar layer buried in early April is down 50-80 cm. Smaller storm slab avalanches may step down to one of these deeper weak layers.

Below treeline, snow is disappearing rapidly.

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.