Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 7th, 2021 8:05AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices and Loose Wet.
Chris Gooliaff,
A poor refreeze overnight and incoming rain at lower elevations may trigger wet avalanches below treeline.
Cornices are popping, naturally and from people walking on them. Give them lots of room and respect.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Flurries and unsettled conditions for the next few days.
Today: Snow. 15-20cm, Alp high -4*C, FZL 1600m lowering to 900m tonight, ridge wind 25km/h gusting 65km/h
Thurs: Cloudy with sunny periods, trace precip, FZL 1300m, ridge winds 20km/h gusting 35km/h
Friday: Flurries, 10cm, FZL 1100m, ridge winds 20km/h gusting 60km/h
Snowpack Summary
Variable snow surfaces are present at the moment: 10-15cm settled powder on sheltered N aspects, thin wind-pressed surface skin below glacial toes, suncrust on solar aspects, and Spring melt/freeze crust below treeline. The March 18 suncrust/surface hoar is down ~80cm at treeline. Cornices, as always at this time of year, are large and fragile.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous cornice releases, triggering windslab below them, were reported yesterday up to size 2.5. This includes a close call from a skier remote triggering a cornice along the Jupiter Traverse.
Low elevation slopes became active in the afternoon yesterday with the sunshine, with loose wet avalanches to sz 2 observed.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong SW winds yesterday redistributed snow onto NE aspects, creating more surface wind slabs. These may be hard to identify with the incoming snow today.
- Use caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are are large at this time of year and they've been starting to fail under their weight. Give cornices a very wide berth along ridgecrests, as they can suck back a long way!!
- Stay well back from the leeward side of corniced ridgecrests.
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
A poor refreeze last night and incoming warm precip may trigger loose, wet avalanches at lower elevations.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 8th, 2021 8:00AM
