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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2024–Apr 13th, 2024

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

Slab avalanches may still be triggerable on steep planar slopes at higher elevations, especially as the upper snowpack warms with the heat of the day.

Expect to find challenging travel below treeline, with a variety of crusts capping a thinning snowpack.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Thursday, a field team observed two remotely triggered size 1 storm slabs above the Bonney Moraines on E aspects, failing on the Apr 9th crust.

There were a few large (up to size 2.5) avalanches observed in the highway corridor from steep unsupported terrain in recent days - some of these storm slabs suspected to be failing on the April 9th crust.

Wednesday, a field team on Christiana ridge ski cut a few moist storm slabs on steep solar aspects, sliding on the April 9th crust.

Snowpack Summary

In the Alpine and high Tree-line, 20-30cm of settling snow sits over a firm crust on any slope that catches the sun and well settled dry snow on due north aspects.

At tree line the snow depth is at a record low of around 220cm. The Feb 3rd crust/facet layer persists at upper elevations, buried down 80-140cm.

Below tree line is a well-settled spring snowpack with a strong surface crust that will break down during the heat of the day.

Weather Summary

An improving trend is forecast for the weekend, with a ridge of high pressure briefly setting up over our area.

Tonight: Cloudy periods. Alpine low -2°C, freezing level (FZL) 1400m. Light SW ridgetop winds.

Sat: Mix sun/cloud. Alpine High 2°C, FZL 2400m. Light SW winds.

Sun: Mix sun/cloud. Low 1 °C, High 4 °C, FZL 2500m. Gusty moderate SW wind.

Mon: Flurries (up to 10cm). Low -8 °C, High -1 °C. FZL 1800m. Light W wind.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.

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.