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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2022–Apr 20th, 2022

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

A fresh dusting in the hills has dressed them up. Wind slabs, fragile cornices, and daytime warming are the biggest concerns, but don't forget about the widening glide cracks!

The weekend warming trend may finally usher in true Spring conditions.

Weather Forecast

Cool mornings with freezing levels (FZL) peaking during mid-afternoon periods, the usual diurnal cycle.

Tonight: Cloudy with clear periods, FZL 700m, light to gusty mod S winds

Wed: Sun and cloud, Alp high -4*C, FZL 1800m, light S winds

Thurs: Sun, cloud, and isolated flurries, trace amounts, Alp high -1*C, FZL 2100m, light S winds

Snowpack Summary

Approx 20cm of new snow and strong, gusty SW winds at Treeline have buried a supportive crust (5-20cm thick, up to ~2200m) or variable soft to hard wind slab in the Alpine. Fresh wind slabs likely in lee areas Treeline and above. Expect warmish "dust on crust" as you ascend up valley, bring your glide wax!

Avalanche Summary

Natural activity has been minimal this past week, but likely to pick up with the new snow and winds.

Last week there was a sz 3 skier triggered (on belay) cornice fall off of Mt Bonney, as well as a close call when a small wind slab nearly took a skier into a crevasse!

Confidence

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.

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.