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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2024–Apr 14th, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Its heating up! Strong sun and high freezing levels are forecast for Sunday, expect the snowpack to deteriorate in the heat

Challenging/variable riding exists on all slopes that face the sun and on all aspects tree line and below.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There were a few large (up to size 2.5) avalanches observed in the highway corridor from steep unsupported terrain in recent days.

The storm slab is bonded poorly to the crust below and reports of remotely triggered avalanches are still coming in throughout the region.

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.

Snowpack Summary

In the Alpine and Tree-line, 20-30cm of heavy moist snow sits over a firm crust on any slope that faces the sun. Dry snow may be found on high North facing slopes

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 treeline the snowpack is going through its typical spring melt/freeze cycle, firm in the morning then breaking down and becoming isothermal with daily warming.

Weather Summary

A brief ridge of high pressure sets up for the weekend giving clear skies and warm temps.

Tonight: Clear with cloudy periods. Nil precip, freezing level(FZL) 2300m

Sun: Mix sun/cloud. High 4 °C, FZL 2600m. Gusty SW wind 15-40.

Mon: Cloudy w sunny periods & isolated flurries. High -1 °C. FZL 2200m. Wind west 20-35 km/hr.

Tues: Flurries amounting to 7cm. Wind N 10-25km/hr. FZL 1400m

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.