Avalanche Advisory Archive Pre-2016

Date Issued:2014-04-18
Danger:2
Trend:3
Probability:0
Size:2
Problem:0
Discussion:

TODAY ... RAIN SHOWERS BECOMING SCATTERED IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS AROUND 48. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH DIMINISHING IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT ... MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS IN THE EVENING. LOWS AROUND 36. EAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY ... MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 51. WEST WIND 10 MPH.

We received 20mm of water in the last 24hrs at the Tram, this was mostly rain but changed to snow about midnight last night with 4.5cm of accumulation since then. Temperature there is currently 0.2C.

We can expect another 8.6mm of water to come in today, this will remain snow for a little longer then change to rain in the lower part of the start zones.

Main avalanche problem continues to be point release wet slides that will entrain and push more and more snow until they run out of it. While not especially fast slides, these guys are heavy and strong with the ability to push a lot of force even when not very deep. These slides are unlikely to cause problems in developed areas. The possibility for larger wet slabs exists but is not likely in our urban zones at this time.

Hazard is MODERATE this morning, and will decrease through the afternoon if the clouds remain in place. The likelyhood of slides will climb rapidly if the sun comes out, but sizes will still remain small enough to cause little concern in urban zones.

Backcountry travelers beware, the new snow didn't come with a hard enough freeze to add much stability to the weak, wet, upper layers of the snowpack. Skier triggered point releases will be common on all aspects at lower elevations.

Tip:

READ A BOOK

Few things trump a hands on class ... but on these rainy spring afternoons a good book can be nice. These three are on the shelf of every avalanche professional I know.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/383763.Snow_Sense

Short, sweet, and small enough to go in your pack if you want.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/1924.Staying_Alive_in_Avalanche_Terrain

Still one of the most comprehensive \"user guides\" to backcountry travel.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1925.The_Avalanche_Handbook?from_search=true

For the snow scientist ready to get their geek on.

Forecaster:Chris Eckel