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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2022–Apr 10th, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

The appearance of the strong April sun may initiate a round of loose avalanche activity. Take care to plot a route that keeps you from being on or under steep south facing slopes and watch for isolated pockets of wind slab, especially around ridge crest.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Trace of snow possible, light north wind, freezing level at valley bottom.

SUNDAY: Broken cloud cover in the morning giving way to just a few clouds in the late afternoon, no significant precipitation expected, light northeast wind, freezing level beginning at valley bottom, rising to around 1100 m in the afternoon. 

MONDAY: A few clouds at dawn with cloud cover increasing to broken after lunch, potential for some light flurries/rain in the afternoon, moderate south wind, freezing level beginning near valley bottom, rising to around 1000 m in the afternoon. 

TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover, no significant precipitation expected, strong east/northeast wind, freezing level beginning at valley bottom, rising to around 500 m in the afternoon. 

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry avalanches ran naturally on Friday to size 3, which is a pretty impressive. Thin wind slabs up to size 2 also failed naturally and were sensitive to human triggering on Friday. At lower elevations, loose wet avalanches ran naturally to size 2.

Observations were a bit thin on Thursday, but this MIN sums it up very well. Up to 50 cm of new snow producing audible avalanches in big terrain, and smaller storm slabs in more moderate terrain.

Snowpack Summary

It's been a snowy and cold spring, above 1200 m, there is up to 100 cm of snow from the last week that rests on a hard melt freeze crust. This snow is settling and bonding quickly, and we're seeing nice consistent overnight re-freeze of the snowpack.  

Cornices are very large and exposure to them should be minimized, especially during warm or windy weather.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.

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.