Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 10th, 2014 9:15AM

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

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Friday: Dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level 2100 m. Ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h from the west. Saturday: Starting out sunny, clouding over later on with a chance of showers. Freezing level around 1800 m. Calm winds. Sunday: Dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level 1900 m. Calm winds.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were reported on Wednesday. On Tuesday, high daytime temperatures triggered numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on all aspects and at all elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Pronounced warming in the upper snowpack at all elevations has made the top 50 cm or more of the snowpack moist. Subsequent cooler temperatures have re-frozen the surface at higher elevations, although solar aspects at all elevations continue to undergo daily melt-freeze cycles. Several older melt-freeze crusts in the upper 40 cm are breaking down, although deeper crusts are reported to still be hard. The late January/early February persistent weak layer is deeply buried, but has not produced avalanches in this region for some time now.

Problems

Loose Wet

Warm temperatures and/or intense sunshine turn the snow surface to mush increasing the likelihood of a loose wet avalanche.

Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. >Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 11th, 2014 2:00PM