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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 26th, 2025–Apr 27th, 2025

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

Regions

Glacier.

If the surface crust is breaking down, it's time to turn around!

Starting early and finishing early are imperative with the strong spring sun and long days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches to size 2 were observed today from steep, rocky, S-facing slopes in the alpine.

A MIN reported loose snow avalanches on the steep S slopes of Swiss Peak Wednesday.

Neighboring operations have been observing solar triggered loose snow avalanches out of steep terrain this week, up to size 2. A few natural cornice failures have been observed up to size 2.5

Snowpack Summary

The most recent storm snow that fell in the alpine has been settled and squished by the warm temperatures on all but the highest North facing slopes. A decent corn snow cycle has been occurring on solar slopes, but timing is everything! With forecasts for rising freezing levels and poor overnight "re-freeze", we could see the snowpack rapidly deteriorate and become isothermal. Expect poor travel conditions below treeline.

Weather Summary

The ridge of high pressure breaks down Sunday. Expect mixed skies and convective weather.

Tonight Cloudy with clear periods. Alpine Low 2°C. Light NW Ridge winds. Freezing Level (FZL) 2400m. Alpine temperature inversion

Sun Mix sun/cloud. High 3 °C. Light N wind. FZL 2400m

Mon Isolated flurries. High 2°C. Light SW wind gusting to 40km/h. FZL 2400m

Tues Mix sun/cloud. High 0°C. Moderate W wind. FZL 2100m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

Problems

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.

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.