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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2019–Apr 18th, 2019

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

Northwest Inland.

The storm is set to finish with a bout of intense southwest winds, which are expected to move much of our new snow into reactive slabs. Expect the greatest new snow amounts - and avalanche danger - at high elevations in the southwest of the region.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries with a trace to 5 cm of new snow. Strong to extreme southwest winds.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate to strong southwest winds easing over the day. Alpine high temperatures around -6 with freezing levels to 1400 metres.

Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries with a trace of new snow. Light to moderate west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -7 with freezing levels to 1200 metres.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Light south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -4 with freezing levels to 1600 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region, however up to 27mm of new precipitation has been observed in the southwest of the region. Avalanche danger will be greatest where new snow accumulations are deepest.

Reports from Monday included an observation of our recent snow reacting easily to skier traffic on south aspects, producing loose wet avalanches to size 1.5, particularly in areas with a thinner cover of new snow.

On Sunday natural wind slabs to size 1.5 were observed on northeast facing slopes between 1400 and 1800 m. A natural cornice failure produced a size 2.5 wind slab when it impacted the underlying slope.

On Saturday loose wet sluffing from gulley walls was reported below treeline. Avalanches were also heard, but not seen running from big unskiable terrain.

If you're out we'd love it if you would submit what you're seeing to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Another 2-5 cm on new snow is expected to accumulate Wednesday night, bringing variable new snow totals to an expected 10-30 cm, which is focused to the west of the region. The new snow has buried a melt freeze crust recently formed at treeline and below as well as on slopes that saw sun exposure after Saturday's storm. It will add to a wind-redistributed 10-30 cm of dry snow (from the weekend) on high elevation north facing slopes.

As we enter into mid-April we're dealing with a classic warm snowpack. At and below treeline the snowpack is becoming isothermal. We're tracking the April 4th crust which is down 15 to 30 cm below the surface on high elevation north facing slopes. Surface hoar and facets have been observed on this crust and it has recently produced sudden planar results in snowpack tests.

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.