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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 22nd, 2024–Apr 23rd, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Spring-time showers in the valley translate to fluffy powder in the high Alpine. The latest stormy weather dropped 20-25cm of snow at and above Tree-line, but was also accompanied by gusty winds.

Fresh wind slabs in lee features will need to be evaluated before you drop into your line, especially where they overlie a crust!

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A field team in the Fidelity zone was able to ski-control several dry/loose sz 1 avalanches on N aspects, as well as ski-cut a wind slab on an E aspect.

The field team also was able to ski-control wet/loose avalanches to sz 2 on solar aspects steeper than 35°.

There were a few small loose snow avalanches from rocky/extreme terrain in the last couple days, including human-triggered from S aspects on the Swiss Peaks.

Snowpack Summary

20-25cm of new snow and gusty SW winds have created wind slabs in upper elevation lee features. These slabs sit atop a series of crusts on all aspects except high north faces, where they overlie dry snow.

The Feb 3rd crust, down ~110cm, is the dominant mid-pack layer and still produces isolated planar results when tested.

Below tree-line, the snowpack has gone through many melt-freeze cycles, and is in spring conditions. Travel is rough at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

The upper ridge will hold for Tues, then breaks down to scattered, light flurries on Wed.

Tonight: Clear with cloudy periods, Alp low -2°C, light ridgetop winds.

Tues: Mix of sun/cloud, Alp high 3°C, light SW winds, FZL rising to 2400m.

Wed: Increasing clouds and flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high 1°C, gusty mod SW winds, 2100m FZL.

Thurs: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high -1°C, light SW winds, 1900m FZL.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

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.