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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2018–Apr 8th, 2018

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead.

New snow, strong winds and rising freezing levels are increasing avalanche danger for the forecast period. Choose conservative terrain and be especially wary of overhead hazards as the day warms or the sun shines.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

TONIGHT: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 10-15 cm. Ridge wind strong, west. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 500 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 2-5 cm. Ridge wind strong, west. Alpine temperature near -2. Freezing level 1800 m.MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind moderate, west. Alpine temperature near 0. Freezing level 2100 m.TUESDAY: Increasing cloud. Ridge wind moderate to strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near +4. Freezing level 2600 m.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous small slab avalanches have been reported in the top 10-30 cm of snow all through this week. It appears as though moderate amounts of new snow with just the right amount of wind have continuously set up thin, but touchy wind slabs in a variety of places. While these have been mostly small (size 1-1.5), a size 2 wind slab avalanche was reported near Fernie on Wednesday morning on a northeast aspect at approximately 2000 m. On Friday skier's reported a close call on wind-loaded slope on a southeast aspect at 1940 m. Read their MIN report here.Also on Friday, explosive control work produced wind slab and cornice releases up to size 2 in alpine terrain.Thursday in the Elkford area, recent small (size 1) loose/dry avalanches were reported on northerly aspects while loose/wet were observed on solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm storm snow sits above a variety of crusts on all but high north aspects. Wind has formed isolated slabs in lee features, and in some cases snow may be poorly bonded to the crusts.There are some reports of a surface hoar layer roughly 80 cm deep on north aspects at treeline, but no recent avalanche activity on this layer. A layer of sugary facets around a crust exists near the bottom of the snowpack, but this layer has been inactive for some time.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.