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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2018–Apr 20th, 2018

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

Kootenay Boundary.

High overnight freezing levels combined with continued warm temperatures and sunny skies on Friday will increase the likelihood of loose, wet avalanche activity.  These releases can start small and gain mass quickly becoming a big problem.

Confidence

-

Weather Forecast

TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Ridge wind light, southwest. Alpine temperature near +1. Freezing level 2200 m.FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Increasing cloud and rain overnight. Precipitation up to 5 mm. Ridge wind light southwest. Alpine temperature near +2. Freezing level 2200 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near -2. Freezing level 1700 m.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light, northwest. Alpine temperature near 0. Freezing level 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

Wednesday numerous natural loose, wet avalanches (size 1-1.5) were observed on solar (southeast, south, and west) aspects in the southeastern part of the region.On Tuesday there was a report of a skier-triggered storm slab size 1.5 on a north aspect at treeline north of Rossland that failed on a crust. Read MIN report here.On Monday, loose wet avalanches were triggered naturally and by explosives. They were large (size 2 to 2.5) and on all aspects between 1700 m and 2100 m.

Snowpack Summary

Snow and warm temperatures on Thursday have likely moistened the 35 to 60 cm of storm snow that fell earlier in the week.  This snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that formed following rain and warm temperatures on Sunday. Numerous other melt-freeze crusts exist in the upper snowpack from rain, sun, and warming during the spring season. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well-settled and strong.At lower elevations below treeline, a spring snowpack exists.

Problems

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.