Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Things can change quickly with the late April sun.
It's a good time to take advantage of fast travel in the early morning, and manage your exposure to solar slopes with your exit plan.
Weather Forecast
Sunny periods and elevated freezing levels (FZL) are forecast through Sunday. Unsettled weather returns Monday evening
Tonight: Mainly cloudy. No precip. Low -2*C, FZL to valley bottom. Light SW wind
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 1*C, FZL 2200m, light S wind
Mon: Flurries, 8cm. Low -4*C, high 1*C, FZL 2200m, strong SW wind
Snowpack Summary
Variable windslabs exist in the alpine. A breakable surface crust can be found up to 2400m.
The April 18th crust, down 5-30 cm, is widespread up to 2200m & on alpine solar aspects.
Below treeline, the snowpack has gone through several melt-freeze cycles & is capped by a crust that breaks down with daytime warming.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday and today there has been a small cycle of solar triggered loose snow avalanches on slopes where the sun popped out. One notable natural size 3 slab avalanche occurred from a West aspect at treeline on Avalanche Crest (suspected to be windslab on the April 18th crust).
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Sun and warm temperatures will increase the hazard throughout the day.
Moist/wet surface snow, snowballing and water running on rocks are all signs of instability.
- Travel early before the heat of the day melts surface crusts, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Previous SW winds loaded up lee features. These slabs are up to 30 cm deep and sit on top of a crust on all but northerly alpine aspects. These windslabs will gain reactivity as temperatures rise.
- Recent snow may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar aspects where it sits on sun crust
- Use caution on steep lee and cross-loaded slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Cornices
Cornices are LARGE and may be sensitive to temperature fluctuations, solar radiation, wind loading or just your mere presence nearby. Take necessary precautions if approaching them to access your line and limit your exposure below them.
- Minimize exposure to cornices. They will squish you.
- Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on ridges.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3