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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2022–Apr 19th, 2022

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

Regions

North Rockies.

Be mindful of reactive slabs forming with new snow, the deepest deposits will be in areas loaded by wind. Bump the hazard to Considerable if you find more than 20 cm fresh snow in your riding area.

Confidence

High - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm by morning. Treeline low -12 C. Increasing east wind, 25-40 km/h with gusts to 70 km/h.

TUESDAY: Flurries and wet snow, another 5-10 cm snow through the day. Localized snowfall may deposit up to 20 cm total accumulations by 4 pm in areas near Core Lodge and Kakwa. Treeline temperatures rising to -3 C. Wind 30-50 km/h from the northeast. 

WEDNESDAY: Partially cloudy, isolated flurries. Treeline temperatures rising to -1 C. Light winds from the southeast. 

THURSDAY: Partially cloudy, isolated flurries. Treeline temperatures rising to -1 C. Light winds from the southeast. 

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported. Information is limited at this time of year. Please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network!

Snowpack Summary

At treeline and higher, fresh snow will cover old wind slab and wind press, and 20-40 cm of old snow. This sits on a melt-freeze crust all aspects to 2000 m and mountain tops on solar aspects. Another prominent crust layer is found 40-70 cm deep. 

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy. The snowpack deteriorates rapidly at lower elevations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.

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.

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.