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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2015–Apr 12th, 2015

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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

Northwest Inland.

Use caution when traveling near wind loaded slopes.  This forecast is produced with few observations. If you have field information you'd like to share here please let us know

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Flurries today, with the freezing level near 1000m for the high today. Wind at ridge tops will remain strong from the SW. SUNDAY: Cloudy with flurries, freezing levels between 500 and 1000m, winds moderate to strong from the South WestMONDAY: Much the same as the previous two days,  cloudy with flurries, wind from the South, and the freezing level may climb to 1500m during the day.TUESDAY: A break in the weather, cloudy with some sunny periods, light flurries, freezing level around 1000m, wind from the SW.

Avalanche Summary

No reports of natural avalanche activity yesterday, most likely because of few observations during this storm, but one operator has reported good results, up to size 2.5, with explosives in wind loaded terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong winds are scouring exposed alpine slopes and loading lee features. In some parts of the region, surface hoar and facetting occurred on protected, high, north facing alpine and treeline slopes during the last spell of clear weather.  These facets may now be getting buried with the new snow and wind loading.  A crust with surface hoar buried on March 25th is still considered a potential problem in parts of the forecast region but has only been reactive recently in the north part of the region. This may come back to life with the new snow and wind loading. Cornices are now large and may collapse with increased load from the storm.

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.

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.