Avalanche Forecast

Northwest Inland

Date issued

Apr 15, 2018 - 4:54 PM

Valid until

Apr 16, 2018 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

jsmith

When the sun comes out it will quickly weaken the surface snow. Watch for signs that the snow is heating up such as pin-wheeling or the snow surface becoming moist.

Regular season
Sunday - April 15, 2018
Alpine

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.

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.

Monday - April 16, 2018
Alpine

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.

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.

Tuesday - April 17, 2018
Alpine

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.

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?

When the sun comes out it will quickly weaken the new snow and cause loose wet avalanching on steep solar slopes.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating. Give them a wide berth both from above and below.
  • Watch for signs that the snow is heating up such as pin-wheeling or the surface snow becoming moist.
  • Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs

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

Wind slabs may still be reactive in isolated locations.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use caution when transitioning into wind effected terrain.
  • Avoid areas that look freshly loaded with snow; especially convex features below ridgetops.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transition from thin to thick.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Saturday. On Wednesday, an explosive triggered size 2.5 deep persistent slab on a west aspect between 1000-1300 m was reported near Ningunsaw.

Snowpack Summary

Lingering wind slabs on convex features below ridgetops may still be reactive to human triggers.

Weak layers buried around March 19th are roughly 40 cm below the surface (up to 100 cm in deeper snowpack areas). These weak layers include surface hoar on shaded aspects at high elevations and hard crusts on solar aspects and below treeline.

Near the bottom of the snowpack, sugary facets are found in shallow, rocky snowpack areas. Storm slab avalanches have "stepped-down" to these facets and produced very large avalanches in the far northern parts of the region.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeasterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level around 1100 m.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light southwesterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level around 1100 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. Light southwesterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level around 1200 m.

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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