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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2019–Apr 20th, 2019

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

Regions

Purcells.

You may find new wind slabs up high, likely above around 2300 m. Also keep your eyes to the skies and avoid travelling on or beneath southerly slopes during intense sunny conditions.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light northwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level 1500 m.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, light north wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1900 m.

SUNDAY: Clear skies, light north wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 2100 m.

MONDAY: Increasing clouds, light southwest wind, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 2500 m.

Avalanche Summary

A natural loose wet avalanche cycle was observed on Thursday with the increasing freezing level.

Snowpack Summary

The freezing level hovered around 2300 m to 2500 m during Friday's storm. Around 10 to 15 cm of snow likely accumulated above the freezing level. The snow fell with strong southwest wind, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features. The snowpack is wet below treeline from recent rain and warm air.

Weak and sugary faceted grains may remain at the bottom of the snowpack in the alpine, producing a low likelihood but high consequence scenario. Steep, rocky areas with a shallow snowpack are the most likely places to trigger this layer.

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.