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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 15th, 2013–Apr 16th, 2013

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, 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

Glacier.

Weather Forecast

Today should be mostly overcast, with cool temps, light flurries and moderate N-NE winds. Overnight a ridge of high pressure will build, bringing mostly sunny skies through Wednesday. As the next frontal system approaches late Wednesday, winds will shift back to W'ly and temperatures and freezing levels will start to rise.

Snowpack Summary

30-50cm of settled storm snow remains dry on north aspects above 1750m. The April 3rd crust is down ~60cm and seems to be bonding in most locations. In isolated areas; protected slopes above 2400m; pockets of surface hoar is buried down ~60cm. Northerly winds have been reverse loading slopes for the past 36 hrs.

Avalanche Summary

Several slab avalanches on large west facing alpine slopes that received the late day sun were observed yesterday evening. A size 2.5 loose avalanche was observed from a south aspect, and 3 size 2 slab avalanches were occurred on north aspects. Skiers reported slow moving sluffs on steep slopes on a north aspect, and moist pinwheels below 1500m.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.