Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Regions
Glacier.
Spring is here! Daily warming and solar radiation will cause the avalanche hazard to rise throughout the day. Loose wet avalanches are certain on steep solar aspects.
Weather Forecast
A strong upper ridge of high pressure is in place over much of the province bringing sunny skies and warm temperatures. In our region today we will see freezing levels at 1800m, an alpine high of -2 deg C and light ridge top wind. This warming trend will continue with freezing levels forecast to reach 2700m by mid week.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is beginning to transition to a spring snowpack. Yesterday's strong sun heated the surface then created a solid crust on solar asps. Above freezing temps at valley bottom have created a surface crust below ~1500m. The recent storm snow with strong Southerly winds created windslab in the alpine. Deep PWLs are and buried over 1.5m.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday we experienced a significant natural avalanche cycle due to warm temps forecast and strong solar radiation. This cycle kicked off in the afternoon with size 3 moist loose avalanches running well below treeline to the end of run outs. In Connaught the path "Frequent Flyer" ran to valley bottom, crossing the skin track. Pic Here
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
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.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
