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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2025–Apr 13th, 2025

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

Regions

Glacier.

Use caution on north facing slopes in the alpine: riders are triggering a reactive wind slab.

Its spring and conditions vary greatly depending on aspect, elevation and time of day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday there was a backcountry report of skier triggered sz 2 wind slab on the Dome glacier at 2450 m on a NE asp. This avalanche likely failed on a layer of surface hoar down 10-30 cm.

Check out this MIN from Friday for another skier accidental, sz 2.5 with involvement on this interface. Dig down and have a look for this layer before jumping into large or committing features.

Saturday our field team found a reactive storm slab producing size 1.5s on the steepest part of Balu Pass.

Snowpack Summary

Daily melt/freeze cycles are affected the surface of the snowpack on solar slopes and all aspects BTL. Recent storm snow has formed a slab on lee features, with a recent crust as a bed surface. High alpine, north facing slopes still hold dry snow. A buried surface hoar layer exists in sheltered alpine areas above ~2300m. This layer is reactive and catching people off guard.

Use caution below treeline, conditions are variable and challenging travel exists.

Weather Summary

Unstable, moist spring weather continues with a mix of sun, cloud and rising freezing levels early in the week.

Tonight Cloudy w/clear periods. Alp low -9°C. Ridge wind NW 20-40. Freezing Level (FZL) 500m.

Sun Mix sun & cloud. Ridge wind W 15-25. FZL 1800m.

Mon Mix sun & cloud, precip: nil. Alp high -4°C. Ridge wind SW 15-30. FZL 2300m

Tues Sun, cloud, and flurries. Alp high -1°C. Ridge wind W 10-25km/h. FZL 2000m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to buried surface hoar.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.

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.

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.