Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 13th, 2014–Apr 14th, 2014

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Avoid exposure to slopes that have been baking in the sun. Cornices will become more unstable with the strong solar inputs. If they break off, one of the deeper persistent layers could fail, resulting in a very large avalanche!

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will bring sunny skies for today and tomorrow. Freezing levels will be around 2000m today and are forecast to go as high as 2400m on Monday. Mountain top winds light out of the NW with possible locally moderate winds at some locations. On Monday evening low pressure may move in and bring some light precip on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

A variety of crusts exist on solar aspects and lower elev N asp in the top meter. Cold temps overnight resulted in a good freeze of the surface crusts, these will weaken quickly today with the forecast warming and direct solar. In the alpine on N aspects, powder can be found. Deeper in the snowpack there exists weak layers that remain a concern.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterdays solar inputs were not enough to produce any significant activity, today will be a different story with strong direct sun. A few days ago, glide crack release and slab avalanches to size 3.0 were observed. Loose wet slides to size 2.0 on solar aspects were more common and a possible trigger to the slab releases.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Loose Wet

Intense solar inputs will weaken last nights refreeze quickly and a loose wet cycle will likely start in the early afternoon.

Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Storm Slabs

Slopes that have been baking in the sun can fail as a slab on crusts and on higher alpine elevations on North lee aspects.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The Mar 2nd crust and Feb 10 layer can be triggered by heavy loads such as cornices or loose wet slides, a likely scenario with the forecast strong solar inputs.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 4