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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2022–Apr 2nd, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Forecasted winds will quickly impact any loose snow. Carefully assess the wind slab hazard as you gain elevation and limit exposure to cornices.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Unsettled and blustery, trace to 5 cm snowfall overnight. Moderate to storm southwest wind. Ridgetop temperatures dropping to -10 C.

Saturday: Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm of new snow. Strong southwest winds gusting to extreme overnight. Ridgetop high -3 C.

Sunday: Stormy and unsettled with up to 10 cm fresh snow by morning. Southwest winds decreasing to moderate. Ridgetop high -1 C.

Monday: Flurries and unsettled, 5 cm fresh snow. Moderate southeasterly wind. Ridgetop high reaching 0 C.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of small (size 1) windslabs were reactive to skiers on Thursday, about 15 cm deep on a north aspect. Otherwise, there have been no recent avalanche observations since earlier in the week when natural cornice falls were observed throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

Wind continues to redistribute any loose snow into pressed surfaces and pockets of windslab at treeline and higher. Below the fresh snow, a crust can be found on all aspects and elevations except high north terrain where cold snow prevailed through recent warm temperatures. Large overhanging cornices have also been observed in the region recently which may remain sensitive.

A couple of layers of weak crystals in the upper snowpack appear to be bonding according to recent observations and snowpack tests. Additionally, we suspect that the surface crust will help bridge these layers, further decreasing their likelihood of triggering older persistent weak layers. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.