Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 18th, 2017 3:33PM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Winter continues to hang on at higher elevations. Expect loose wet avalanches on sun exposed slopes in the afternoon.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Overnight: Flurries with strong southwest winds and freezing down to valley bottoms. Wednesday: Overcast with light snow and moderate southeast winds. Daytime freezing level up to 1700 metres. Thursday: Light snow in the morning, and a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. Daytime freezing level up to 1800 metres. Friday: Mostly sunny with light winds and daytime freezing up to 2000 metres.

Avalanche Summary

A MIN report from Monday describes a size 2.5 wet slab from the west aspect of Elliot peak at 1900 metres elevation. It is suspected that a small storm slab avalanche stepped down to the deeply buried November crust; this may have occurred on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow falling last week has been redistributed by south and east wind at upper elevations. This is likely sitting on a hard wind crust in exposed alpine areas and sun crust on solar aspects. Lower elevations are experiencing a melt-freeze cycle and the snowpack is likely moist or wet throughout its entire thickness. A deep persistent weak layer is still lingering near the bottom of the snowpack in all areas.

Problems

Cornices

Cornices are large and fragile, expect then to fall off naturally during periods of strong solar radiation and during the warmest part of the day.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.Cornices become weak with daytime heating.Even small cornice falls may trigger larger avalanches on slopes below

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Loose Wet

Loose wet avalanches are more likely during periods of strong solar radiation and daytime warming. Snow at lower elevations may become isothermal and release from steep terrain on all aspects.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 19th, 2017 2:00PM