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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2013–Apr 7th, 2013

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

Little Yoho.

One more day of minimal overnight recovery of lower elevation crusts.  Monday and Tuesday we will start to return to regular spring conditions.  SH

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels to valley bottom Sunday morning, but expect only weak overnight recovery of crusts below treeline as most areas will be under cloud cover.  Freezing levels to 2000m in the afternoon. Expect only light precipitation Sunday.  Monday and Tuesday we should start to see good overnight crust recovery.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of new, dense snow in the alpine over the last 48 hours sits over crusts on most aspects except true N. Rain below treeline. Bow summit plot at 2000m today saw mainly isothermal snowpack with little freeze. Hard compression results down 60cm on facets. In that area E of the divide there are still depth hoar and facet layers near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

One size 2 in the alpine on a NE aspect looked to have occurred within the last 24 hours. It appeared to be 60 cm deep but visibility was poor. Failure plane possibly an ice crust formed on March 14. One skier triggered size 2 storm slab on a N aspect in the alpine reported in the Sunshine back country in steep terrain.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Sunday

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.