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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2019–Apr 18th, 2019

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

Regions

Purcells.

Isolated wind slabs may be found up high. The freezing level is expected to rise Thursday afternoon: continue to assess the surface snow and expect loose wet activity if the snow is moist or wet.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, moderate west wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1900 m.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries, accumulation trace to 5 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 1900 m rising to 2500 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with rain, accumulation 10 to 15 mm, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 2500 m.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries, light northwest wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1900 m.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose wet avalanches were triggered during afternoon warming. Otherwise, no new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snowfall amounts are variable across the region, ranging from 10 to 30 cm, with the most on the west side of the region. This snow has remained dry in northerly alpine terrain. All other aspects and elevation bands will have either wet surface snow or a melt-freeze crust due to an increasing freezing level and heat from the sun. The snow may moisten on Thursday as the freezing level rises to 2500 m.

Weak and sugary faceted grains remain at the bottom of the snowpack in the alpine, producing a low likelihood but high consequence scenario. Steep, rocky areas with a shallow snowpack are the most likely places to trigger this layer.

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.