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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 14th, 2019–Apr 15th, 2019

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Light amounts of recent snow and extreme southerly winds have formed wind slabs that may be further below ridgecrests than expected.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine low -6 C / Freezing level 800 m..MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 0 C / Freezing level 1400 m.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm. / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 0 C / Freezing level 1400 m.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high 1 C / Freezing level 1900 m

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday small (size 1) storm slabs were reactive to skier traffic, primarily in lee terrain below ridgetops.

Snowpack Summary

Currently, the snowpack structure changes dramatically with elevation and aspect. Light amounts of new snow and extreme southeasterly winds on Saturday scoured windward surfaces and may have created fresh wind slabs much further down slopes than expected. These winds also created cornice growth. Expect these new cornices to be fragile.Below roughly 1900 m, the snowpack is moist and is melting rapidly at lower elevations. Check out this useful link for managing avalanche hazard during spring conditions HERE.

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.