The Spring cycle continues and there is potential for freezing levels to rise higher on Sunday
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: light north wind, -6C, clear and starry.Â
SUNDAY: Clear skies, 20 km/h north wind, alpine temperature 2 C, freezing level 2000 m.
MONDAY: Clear skies, 10 km/h north wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 1500 m.
TUESDAY: Cloudy, 20km/hr wind starting south and shifting to north, -4 C, 5cm new snow
Avalanche Summary
The recent cool air temperature has quieted avalanche activity. No new avalanche observations were made in the past few days. That said, freezing levels are forecast to go slightly higher on Sunday (2000m). If this occurs, cornices and solar aspects that did not avalanche during previous warming periods could once again become reactive. Â
A big THANK YOU to all of you that provided us and fellow recreationists with observations this season. Please continue to do so if you head out!
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust to the mountain tops. The snow surface will moisten during the heat of the day, particularly on sun-exposed slopes and on all aspects below the freezing level. Moistened snow will subsequently freeze during overnight periods. Cornices are large and could weaken during daytime warming.
The White Pass area has a deep snowpack without any layers of concern. A thinner and weaker snowpack exists in inland regions, such as the Wheaton Valley.
Terrain and Travel
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating.
- Firm cornices can pull back into flat terrain at ridgetop if they fail.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Problems
Cornices
Cornices are large and could weaken during sunny skies. Best practice is to stay well back from them on ridges and avoid travelling beneath them.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are possible on sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day, particularly during sunny conditions. Avalanches are not expected during overnight periods when cooling is expected.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 26th, 2021 4:00PM
