Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2019 8:00AM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

percy woods, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Prolonged solar input will weaken surface crusts early, plan to finish your trip by early afternoon. Expect challenging skiing below treeline. Watch for windslabs on northerly aspects.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Today's forecast calls for cloudy with sunny periods and a trace of precipitation. Alpine high of -1C, a freezing level of 2000m and ridgeline winds light SE. Similar weather in the forecast through to Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of wind slabs at tree line and alpine elevations. The 15cm of recent snow buries a melt freeze crust on all aspects to tree line. Below the crust, the top 50cm is becoming moist during the day, isothermal in thin snowpack areas BTL. Elsewhere the lower snowpack is strong where over 2m.

Avalanche Summary

Cheops 1 slide path produced a size 3 slab initiated by a point release resulting in a long fracture line slab release. No other slides were observed or reported however visibility was not favorable Sunday.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

15cm of recent snow and moderate Southerly winds have created wind slabs in alpine lee features. These slabs sit on a melt-freeze crust and could be sensitive to human triggering. A surface hoar layer may be buried ~20cm on Northerly alpine terrain.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Wet

Surface melt-freeze crusts are capping weak isothermal snow in thin snowpack areas BTL. These crusts are also prevalent at tree-line and above on solar aspects. Crusts have been breaking down by mid afternoon from the heat of the day.

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, North West.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 9th, 2019 8:00AM