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The avalanche danger is MODERATE for WIND SLABS above 3500′. The danger is LOW below 3500′.
The Easter Bunny is coming early and bringing a surprise!
Expect our stable snowpack paradigm to rapidly shift this weekend.
Strong winds combined with 4-6″ of new snow Saturday followed by 12-16″ of new snow Sunday/Monday will increase avalanche danger by Sunday morning.
Tomorrow is the final day to apply for your 2024 Permanent Fund Dividend! Please consider supporting HPAC through Pick.Click.Give.
Join us for our final event of the season at Bearpaw River Brewing Company on Monday! This “Meet the Forecasters” chat will also feature the 2024 release of Bearpaw’s Square Pow IPA! Details on the Events page.
Sun, March 31st, 2024 |
Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
No recent avalanches have been reported or observed since the wet avalanche cycle March 20-21.
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
It will be possible to human trigger wind slabs 2-6″ thick on west to north (clockwise) aspects at upper elevation on slopes steeper than 30°. Natural avalanches are unlikely. A short duration yet intense wind event on Friday gusted SE 31-46mph for 7 hrs @ 4500′ on Marmot and 36-55mph for 10 hrs @ 4561′ on Hatch. The good news is wind slabs will be small in size due to the little amount of low density snow available to transport. Wind slabs are unlikely at low and mid elevation. See recent observations from Friday here.
Use hand pits and pole probes to identify wind slabs. Look for hard snow sitting over weaker snow, smooth and rounded or lens shaped features. Shooting cracks or whumping are signs of instability and indicators of this avalanche problem.
As always we recommend carrying the appropriate rescue gear and knowing how to use it. Safe travel techniques are important every time we travel in avalanche terrain. This means spreading out when ascending slopes, descending one at a time, and regrouping well outside of the runout zone.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
The Easter Bunny is bringing winter back to us! This is no April Fool’s joke!
Expect strong winds to accompany 4-6″” of new snow by end of the day Saturday. Strong winds gusting 30-40 mph combined with an additional 12-16″ of new snow are forecasted Sunday into Monday. Snowfall will be intense at times and combined with strong winds will increase the avalanche hazard. Stay tuned for a Sunday morning forecast with updated information.