Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 9th, 2015 9:29AM

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

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Direct sun & warmth are currently the primary drivers of hazard and the weather forecast indicates that warm temperatures will persist through Friday. Minimize your exposure to large slopes if the snowpack is becoming moist or wet.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Friday: Cloud cover building through the day, light snow starting in the afternoon. Freezing level around 2100 m, southwesterly ridgetop winds increasing from light in the morning to around 40 km/h in the afternoon. Overnight between 4pm Friday and 4am Saturday: 5-10 cm new snow expected. Saturday: A further 5 cm or so new snow above 1500 m, with rain below that. Ridgetop winds up to 60 km/h from the southwest. Sunday: Cloudy with some sunshine. Flurries possible. Freezing level around 1500 m. Ridgetop winds around 40 km/h from the west.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 have been reported in this region recently. This kind of activity is likely to continue through Friday, although the intensity may diminish a little bit on account of less solar radiation and slightly cooler temperatures. Observations are becoming more limited as we enter into spring. If you're out in the mountains, please consider posting your observations to our webpage using the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Melt-freeze surface conditions exist on sun-exposed slopes. On shaded slopes, 10-20cm of recent snow overlies a thick supportive melt-freeze crust. At higher elevations these accumulations may have been blown around by variable winds and thin wind slabs may exist on a variety of aspects. The mid-March crust/facet complex is buried around 50cm below the surface. This layer is generally considered dormant, although it could be reactivated in isolated terrain by prolonged warm temperatures. The mid and lower snowpack are strong and well settled.

Problems

Loose Wet

Watch for pushy loose wet avalanche activity on sun exposed slopes. Loose wet avalanches can entrain mass quickly and travel long distances.

Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>Be alert to conditions that change with aspect, elevation and time of day.>Be alert to conditions that change with aspect, elevation and time of day.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

Large cornices at ridgetop may fail under the weight of a person. Remember that destructive cornice falls become more likely during periods of warming and solar radiation.

Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges. Remember that cornices become weak with daytime heating.>Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges. Remember that cornices become weak with daytime heating.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Apr 10th, 2015 2:00PM