Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 7th, 2015 8:38AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada Peter, Avalanche Canada

Sunshine are warmth are the primary drivers of avalanche hazard. Avoid large sun drenched slopes if the snow is getting moist or wet.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Mainly sunny. The freezing level peaks near 1500-1700 m. Ridge winds are light to moderate from the S-SW. Thursday: Increasing cloud with light snow developing late. The freezing level is around 1500 m. Winds increase to strong or extreme from the S-SW. Friday: Light snow. The freezing level is near 1200 m and winds are strong from the south.

Avalanche Summary

Some loose wet sluffs on solar aspects have been reported in the afternoon. Cornices are getting large and ripe and could pop off with daytime warming.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of recent storm snow is sitting on a variety of old crusty surfaces. You may still find dry powder on higher north aspects, but any sun exposed slope will likely be in a melt-freeze cycle. In addition, recent winds have scoured windward slopes and loaded lee features. A crust with surface hoar buried on March 25th has been identified as a potential problem in parts of the forecast region, but appears to be unreactive at this time.At the base of the snowpack, especially in areas of shallow snow, weak facets may be found. Cornices are now large and potentially fragile, and solar aspects are becoming active in the late afternoons.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may still be lurking in exposed lee terrain and cross-loaded features. 
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Sunny skies and daytime warming could lead to loose wet surface sluffs and/or isolated cornice falls. 
Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 8th, 2015 2:00PM