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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2022–Apr 20th, 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 Rockies.

Assess for wind slabs in steep terrain features.

Confidence

High - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with no precipitation, 10 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level rising to 1600 m.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 10 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -1 C, overnight freeze and daytime freezing level rising to 2000 m.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 10 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature 0 C, overnight freeze and daytime freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few small wet loose avalanches were observed on Sunday and Monday.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.

Snowpack Summary

2 to 10 cm of snow accumulated on Tuesday, which sits on hard snow or a melt-freeze crust. Strong southwest wind may have formed wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine. At low elevations below treeline, a moist and consolidated snowpack exists. Remember that cornices are large and looming at this time of year.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong, consisting of hard snow and various melt-freeze crusts.

Terrain and Travel

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.