Weather Forecast
Mainly sunny today, we might see a few clouds this afternoon. Alpine high of +2, FL will rise to 2500m, winds will be light from the N-NW. Temperatures will rise even higher over the next 2 days as the ridge of high pressure dominates southern BC. The next pulse of precipitation will be on Sat, as a low-pressure system moves in from the SE.
Snowpack Summary
Typical spring melt freeze conditions. This morning we had a minimal recovery with temperatures just below zero at Valley bottom and likely less of a recovery higher with an overnight inversion. There may be some dry snow on North aspects above 2400m. Cornices are large and will weaken with the rising temperatures.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous solar triggered avalanches, mostly in the size 2.5 range with some notables up to 3.5, generally loose wet in character. The notables were Junction East size 3.5, Puff daddy and Camp West size 2.5. Two older notables are Catamount peak size 3 persistent slab and mounds was a glide avalanche and ran size 3.5. Start early, finish early!!!
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.