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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2022–Apr 9th, 2022

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

Regions

South Rockies.

A thick crust will provide for easy travel but poor bonding surface for any new snow. Check for wind slabs under exposed ridges and into the alpine.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Unsettled in the wake of the cold front with isolated flurries, up to 10 cm by morning along with moderate southwest wind. Freezing levels falling to valley bottom with a possible inversion.

Saturday: Blustery with alpine flurries, up to 5 cm through the day. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels around 1400 m, ridgetop high -2 C.

Sunday: Unsettled with flurries, 5-10 overnight and another 5 through the day. Light west wind. Freezing levels around 1200 m, ridgetop high -3 C.

Monday: Overnight flurries with up to 15 cm by morning. Light but gusty east wind. Freezing level 1100 m, ridgetop high -4 C.

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches to size 1.5 were reported on Thursday with warm temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

A crust has formed on all aspects except high north terrain. Any new flurries or dry snow will not bond well to the crust allowing wind to build reactive slabs in lee features. Multiple crusts exist in the upper snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.