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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2022–Apr 24th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

 Large cornice failures are more likely during periods of hot and sunny weather. 

Use caution when traveling on corniced ridgetops and limit your exposure to slopes with large cornices overhead. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Mostly clear / Light southwest wind / Low of -5 / Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud, then 5-10 cm snow overnight ( rain below around 1200 m) / Moderate south wind / High of 6 / Freezing level 2200 m.

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud with very isolated flurries/showers; 0-5 cm / Moderate southwest wind / High of 3 / Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud with very isolated flurries/showers; 0-5 cm / Light southwest wind / High of 2 / Freezing level 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1-1.5) naturally triggered wet loose avalanches on solar aspects were reported at treeline and above on Friday.

We currently have very limited avalanche observation data from this region.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Photos of current conditions and avalanches are the most helpful. 

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of well settled recent snow sits on a melt-freeze crust.

Several crusts exist in the upper snowpack. In areas where there are weak facets sitting on top of the crusts, there is potential for large natural slab avalanches when freezing levels reach mountain tops for multiple days.

Avoid large slopes and avalanche paths during periods of intense warming.

Cornices are very large and more prone to failure during periods of intense warming.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Avoid exposure to steep sun exposed slopes.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.