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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2019–Apr 12th, 2019

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Natural avalanche activity is possible with daytime warming and when the sun shines. This may trigger loose wet avalanches on solar slopes. Isolated wind slabs may be reactive on north facing alpine slopes.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

The next pacific frontal system will reach the North Coast Friday night bringing cloud and precipitation through the weekend.FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with alpine temperatures near -2 and freezing levels 1400 m. Ridgetop wind gusty from the southwest.SATURDAY: Cloudy with snow amounts 10-15 cm. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 1200 m.  Ridgetop wind moderate to strong from the southwest.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -2 and freezing levels near 1500 m. Ridgetop winds moderate from the West.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity reported on Thursday. If you're out we'd love it if you would submit what you're seeing to the Mountain Information Network.The sun can really pack at punch this time of year and trigger loose wet avalanches, especially on solar aspects. North facing alpine slopes may have the best snow quality, however reactive wind slabs remain possible to trigger.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of storm snow from last weekend now rests on a weak layer buried April 4th which consists of a 4 cm crust, surface hoar and facets. The recent snow has transitioned into a hard surface on most aspects and elevations with the exception of high alpine North aspects. Light to moderate wind generally out of the south over the weekend may have formed  wind slabs that may be sensitive to human triggering especially where it sits above the April 4th interface.Below treeline the snowpack is isothermal throughout much of the forecast region.

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.