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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2022–Apr 8th, 2022

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

South Rockies.

Continually assess the snow surface and watch for natural avalanche activity as you move through terrain. There is uncertainty in how the snowpack will respond to the rapidly changing freezing levels.

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: No new snow expected. Strong southwest winds. Possibility of temperature inversion with a above freezing layer in the alpine.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of snow to the alpine and rain below. Strong southwest winds and freezing levels falling from 3000 m to 2000 m.

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds and freezing levels around 1500 m.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light west wind and freezing levels around 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Over the past few days one size one explosive triggered wind slab avalanche has been reported as well as several size one wet loose avalanches in steep terrain.

We suspect Wet loose avalanches will occur on all aspects and elevations except highnorth due to elevated freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab could still be found on north aspects in the alpine. Moist snow will likely be observed on all aspects except high north terrain. As the freezing level falls a new crust will form.

Multiple crusts exist in the upper snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and bonded.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.

Problems

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.

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.