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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2022–Apr 18th, 2022

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

Regions

North Rockies.

Avalanche activity is unlikely given the current cool and cloudy weather.

Continue to be mindful of your exposure to cornices when travelling on and below ridgelines.

Confidence

High - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Partially cloudy with isolated flurries. Treeline temperatures dropping to -5 C. 20-30 km/h wind from the southeast.

MONDAY: Mainly cloudy with light flurries. Treeline temperatures rise to -3 C. 25-40 km/h wind from the southeast.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with precipitation, 5 cm of accumulation above 1000 m, rain below. Treeline temperatures rising to -3 C. 30-50 km/h wind from the northeast. 

WEDNESDAY: Partially cloudy, isolated flurries. Treeline temperatures rising to -1 C. Light winds from the southeast. 

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported. Information is limited at this time of year. Please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network!

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind effect has left a variety of surfaces, including lingering wind slabs in alpine terrain. In more sheltered valleys, around 20-40 cm wind-affected snow covers crust on all aspects to 2000 m and mountain tops on solar aspects. Another prominent crust layer is found 40-70 cm deep. Below treeline, the snowpack is diminishing quickly. Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.

Problems

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.