Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2024–Apr 30th, 2024

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Ghost.

This bulletin will only be updated on a needed basis from the duration of the season.

Rapid loading from rain or snow may trigger natural avalanches to occur. Solar radiation can also be intense and make the snowpack loose and wet and prone to natural avalanches. Think about what you are under. Even a small avalanche can have large consequences in terrain such as gullies that are commonly travelled by ice climbers.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Field observations from the Ghost are limited so please post what you are seeing on the MIN

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain and warm temps have eliminated the snowpack in many valley bottom areas. At treeline and above a winter snowpack remains. The snowpack in this region is generally very thin and solar radiation will weaken it and make it more likely to slide. Rain will also rapidly overload the snowpack and may trigger natural avalanches. Think about the aspect you are on/under and the time of they day you are in these areas. Creeks can also rise quickly on a warm day stranding some climbers behind the rising water.

Weather Summary

The weather is becoming more consistently "Spring" like with warm day time temperatures and cool mornings. Occasional snow storms will cross the region creating elevated hazards at they pass. Other weather elements that will increase the hazard are rain and or intense sun. Many areas at lower elevations have lost there snow cover but treeline and above is still fairly winter like.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.