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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2012–Apr 14th, 2012

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Saturday: very light snowfall / light and variable winds / freezing level at 1500m Sunday: a mix of sun and cloud / light southwesterly winds / freezing level at 1600m Monday: light snowfall / light and variable winds / freezing level at 1500m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported from this region.

Snowpack Summary

We have had very little information about the snowpack in this region for several days now. However, I suspect the light snowfall with light winds at higher elevations have created a fairly consistent covering over a variety of old surfaces. These surfaces include well settled powder on steep north-facing slopes, and temperature-affected snow on solar aspects up high and on all aspects at lower elevations. I suspect below the snow line, light rain has been rain is penetrating and weakening already wet snow. As we head deeper into spring, expect potentially potent, yet relatively short-lived, instabilities with each storm. Wet slabs and wet loose snow avalanches also remain a real possibility during periods of warming or direct solar radiation, especially if there is minimal amounts of overnight freeze. Expect cornices to be large and potentially unstable, especially under sunny skies.

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.