Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 13th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Jeff Andrews,

Email

Generally safe avalanche conditions still require terrain management. Cornices are mature and unpredictable - continue to give them a wide berth during this time of low hazard.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Building cloud on Thursday with the potential for trace amount of precipitation - winds light from the east.  Friday may see additional flurries up to 6cm; flurries continue into Saturday with up to 8cm and continued light winds. Freezing level to remain at valley bottom with temperatures warming back to seasonal into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Previous moderate north winds have created isolated wind slabs and reverse loading in wind prone areas. Marmot ski area reports these new slabs are bonding well to the previous surface. On solar aspects a 3cm sun crust exist up to 2400m under 10-15cm of snow. Likewise a 5cm melt-freeze crust exists up to 2200m on all aspects down 10cm.

Avalanche Summary

Cornice triggered size 2 wind slab observed on Pyramid Wednesday - south patrol noted no new activity. On Tuesday two natural cornice falls were observed on the Churchill range. These cornices did not trigger slabs below. Also a small natural wind slab was observed around the Parker Ridge Area.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Expect isolated wind slabs in the alpine - be mindful of this problem especially when exposed to high consequence terrain.

  • Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by N-NE winds.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices

Fresh cornice falls were observed on Tuesday in the Churchill Range. This could be the result of strong solar input, fresh winds and new snow and the cold temperatures making them brittle.

  • Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.
  • Minimize exposure to corniced features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3.5

Valid until: Apr 14th, 2022 4:00PM