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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2019–Apr 12th, 2019

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

Regions

North Columbia.

As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will become moist and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs might still be sensitive to human triggering.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods / light easterly wind / freezing level 400 mFRIDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods and isolated flurries / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1800 mSATURDAY: Cloudy / up to 15 cm of snow accumulation / strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1600 mSUNDAY: Cloudy / up to 5 cm of snow accumulation / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -7 C / freezing level 1500 m

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday the avalanche activity decreased. A few natural and human triggered wind/storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on west and north aspects at treeline and in the alpine. On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 20-40 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects. Two of these were remotely triggered, one by humans and another one by a helicopter. A layer of small surface hoar below the most recent snow may have been the weak layer. Several natural wet slab and loose wet avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from south and west aspects (see a MIN report from Glacier National Park).

Snowpack Summary

Last weeks unsettled weather produced 30-50 cm of snow that sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in some areas. On northern aspects the new snow is slowly bonding and humans might still trigger wind slab avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.

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.

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.