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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2021–Apr 2nd, 2021

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

 Watch for lingering wind slabs at upper elevations and take a wide berth around cornices. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday Night: Cloudy. Ridgetop wind light to moderate from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -6 and freezing levels 1200 m. 

Friday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest. Alpine temperatures -5 and freezing levels 1000 m.

Saturday: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm. Moderate ridgetop wind from the southwest. Alpine temperatures -4. Freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with alpine temperatures near -3. Ridgetop wind light from the north and freezing levels 1300 m. 

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche reports from the past few days have been limited to thin wind slabs to size 1.5 in the alpine. 

On Tuesday, reports indicated that small loose wet avalanches occurred from steep rocky terrain. Cornices also became weak and failed with daytime warming. No slabs were reported from the slopes below. 

Snowpack Summary

Snow from earlier in the week has been redistributed by southwest winds at upper elevations.

The recent snow sits above a variety of old snow surfaces comprising mostly of a widespread melt-freeze crust with the exception of high north-facing terrain where it may be sitting on small surface hoar crystals. A melt-freeze crust exists at treeline and wet snow is likely found below 1100 m.

Cornices along ridgelines are large, and the likelihood of them failing will increase when the sun comes out.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

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.

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.