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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2022–Apr 5th, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Use caution transitioning from ridges or into steep and unsupported terrain, wind slabs may remain reactive where they sit on a crust.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Unsettled with flurries, trace to 10 cm. Moderate southwest wind. Ridgetop low -8 C.

Tuesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 10 cm. Moderate westerly wind. Ridgetop high -6 C.

Wednesday: Flurries starting in the afternoon, trace to 5 cm. Moderate and increasing southeasterly wind. Ridgetop high -5 C.

Thursday: Scattered flurries, 5-10 cm. Strong south wind. Ridgetop high 0 C, freezing levels extending up to 1600 m.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives triggered numerous size 1-2.5 wind slabs on Sunday afternoon. These were triggered on a variety of aspects and elevations. Several small (size 1-1.5) wind slab avalanches were reported by the end of the day and included reports of ongoing wind transport.

On Thursday, a couple of small (size 1) wind slabs were reactive to skiers, about 15 cm deep on a north aspect.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm low density snow overlies covers a crust on all aspects and elevations except high north terrain where cold snow prevailed through end of March warm temperatures. Alpine and open terrain is more wind affected with a variety of wind-affected surfaces and pocket wind slabs. A couple of layers of weak crystals in the upper snowpack appear to be bonding well according to recent observations and snowpack tests. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.