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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2018–Apr 10th, 2018

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead.

The warming trend and elevated avalanche danger continue for the next few days. Choose conservative terrain and be especially wary of overhead hazards as the day heats up or if the sun shines.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Ridge wind light to moderate, southwest. Alpine temperature near 0. Freezing level 2200 m.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind moderate to strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near +4. Freezing level 2500 m.WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind moderate, southwest. Alpine temperature near 0. Freezing level 2000 m.THURSDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind light, southeast. Alpine temperature near -2. Freezing level 1400 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday there was a report of a natural size 2.5 loose, wet avalanche that failed overnight on a northeasterly aspect in the alpine and ran for 600 m.Widespread storm slab and loose wet avalanche activity up to size 2.5 was reported on Sunday following Saturday's storm. The new snow was reactive to skier and explosive triggers on all aspects above 1400 m. And one natural size 2.5 was reported on an easterly aspect at 1550 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

Rising freezing levels have caused the recent 25 cm of storm snow to become moist up to ridge top elevations. Below 1400 m, rain has soaked the snow surface.There are some reports of a surface hoar layer roughly 100 cm deep on north aspects at treeline, but no recent avalanche activity on this layer. Below this, the mid-pack is generally well settled and strong.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

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.