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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2021–Apr 9th, 2021

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

Regions

Glacier.

Good skiing can be found on sheltered North aspets up high.  Watch for pockets of windslab, and expect South aspects to come alive a little this afternoon with daytime warming and solar radiation.

Weather Forecast

Flurries and unsettled conditions for the next few days.

Today: Flurries (3-5cm), clearing in the afternoon, Alpine high -7 C, Freezing level (Fzl) 1500m, ridge wind moderate W.

Friday: Flurries (10cm). Low -11 C, High -8 C. Fzl 1100m. Ridge winds strong SW.

Saturday: Isolated flurries.  Low -12 C, High -9 C. Fzl valley bottom. Moderate W wind.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of new snow is being blown into fresh windslabs and covering a variety of old surfaces: settled powder on sheltered alpine N aspects, windslabs/ wind pressed surfaces in exposed areas, a suncrust on solar aspects, and spring melt/freeze crust below treeline. Cornices, as always at this time of year, are large and fragile.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of size 2-3.5 windslabs were observed in the N gullies of Macdonald yesterday. A couple of size 2-3 glide slabs also released from the south slopes of Cheops and Tupper.

Numerous cornice releases, triggering windslab below them, were reported Tuesday up to size 2.5. Including this close call on the Jupiter Traverse.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.