Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 21st, 2019 4:12PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
Storm slabs at upper elevations may still be reactive to human triggers; especially in lee features below ridgetops.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine low 2 C / Freezing level 2400 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy / Light to moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 3 C / Freezing level 2400 m.
MONDAY NIGHT: Rain/alpine flurries; 3-5 mm. / Moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine low 2 C / Freezing level 2200 m.
TUESDAY: Rain/ alpine flurries; 3-5 mm. / Light to moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 2 C / Freezing level 2200 m.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 1 C / Freezing level 2000 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, numerous natural loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on all aspects/elevations.
On Friday, Numerous loose wet and slab avalanches to size 2.5 on all aspects in the alpine were reported. Although not in this region, check out this MIN report from Saturday in Glacier National Park HERE.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 mm. of rain has soaked the snowpack at treeline and below. The rain/snow boundary on Friday was around 2200 m. New snow amounts in the alpine will taper rapidly with elevation and likely equate to around 15-25 cm of moist snow at upper elevations adding to the 20-40 cm recent snow which overlies a crust everywhere except high elevation, north facing terrain where preserved surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) may be present in isolated locations down 30-60 cm. A similar layer buried in early April is down 50-80 cm. Smaller storm slab avalanches may step down to one of these deeper weak layers.
Below treeline, snow is disappearing rapidly.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs at upper elevations may still be reactive to human triggers; especially in lee features below ridgetops.
- Use small slopes without consequence to test the bond of the recent snow.
- Pay attention to changing conditions with elevation/aspect.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If temperatures remain warm, loose wet avalanches are still possible with strong solar radiation; especially in the alpine where there is new snow.
- A moist/wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches all indicate a weakening snowpack.
- Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs and gullies that increase the consequence of small avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 22nd, 2019 2:00PM
