Date issued

Apr 19, 2018 - 5:51 PM

Valid until

Apr 20, 2018 - 4:00 PM

Prepared by

tim haggarty

Solar heating over the last two days resulted in a widespread avalanche cycle up to sz 3 with some events running full path. Windslabs in the alpine and loose wet avalanches at lower elevations will remain a concern into the weekend.

Regular season
Thursday - April 19, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Friday - April 20, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Saturday - April 21, 2018
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

While only smaller loose wet events were starting at upper elevations Thursday, all avalanches entrained mass just above treeline and quickly gained size.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.

Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

20-50 cm of storm snow has fallen over the past few days with the greater amounts near the divide. Increased SW wind Tuesday afternoon loaded lee terrain creating reactive wind slabs producing large results Wednesday during control work

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.

Avalanche Problem 3: Persistent Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

A few of the avalanches seen over the last two days were deeper than the rest. We suspect that the both facets and crust on the March 15 interface were to blame. Good to bear in mind for coming warm periods.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be cautious with convexities and steep slopes on solar aspects.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control today produced mainly windlslabs in the sz 2 range 20-50cm deep with decent propagations up to 50m wide. Several of these events entrained more mass as they moist snow at lower elevations. Large loose wet avalanches were seen on both Mts Stephen and Field today to sz 3.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of storm snow near the divide affected by strong SW winds Tuesday evening. Several buried temperature crusts exist to 2000m on all aspects and to ridge tops on solar slopes, including the Mar 15 sun crust down 35-50 cm in the alpine. Moist snow at lower elevations, with the entire snowpack becoming moist near valley bottom.

Weather Forecast

While skies do not look as clear for Friday, freezing levels are forecast to be a bit higher and some sunny periods should be expected. West winds will be increasing in the alpine through Friday into the strong range for Saturday as a pacific system brings up to 8cm of snow with a freezing level around 2000m.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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