Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 5th, 2014 8:06AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

ali haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather will bring light snow above 1400m today and tonight. A ridge will build on Sunday bringing convective weather with local squalls and sunny breaks into Monday when freezing levels are expected to rise to 2000m.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of recent storm snow sits over the April 2 crust on solar aspects. The Mar 22 Cr is down ~50cm, the Mar 2 is down ~1.0m, the Feb 10 is down ~1.75m.

Avalanche Summary

Skier accidental on wind loaded terrain feature yesterday, size 1.0, Balu pass, south east aspect, ~2050m, down 10-15cm and 20m wide. Natural avalanches were observed yesterday morning east of the Rogers Pass summit mostly from the steep north facing gullies from Mt Macdonald up to size 2.5.

Confidence

on Saturday

Problems

Storm Slabs

20cm of new snow with some added wind created some reactive conditions at the higher elevations these past two days. Watch for cracking and more 'slabby' feeling snow as you venture on the upper mountain specially in the lee of ridge features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Many crusts on solar aspects are buried within the 1m range. At this depth they can be triggered by humans. Avoid shallow snowpack areas where it is most likely to initiate an avalanche on this layer.

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 6th, 2014 8:00AM