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Avalanche Forecast

Apr 12th, 2013–Apr 13th, 2013
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Northwest Inland.

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Expect a significant drying trend. Mixed skies, with a slight chance of flurries, alpine temperatures reaching -6 and light easterly winds.Sunday/Monday: Isolated clouds with sunny breaks, alpine temperatures reaching -8 in the afternoons and winds remaining light from the southeast.

Avalanche Summary

No new information from the region. Reports from Wednesday include evidence of Tuesday's natural avalanche cycle with wind slab avalanches up to Size 2.5 failing within the storm snow on steep terrain features. One Size 3 cornice-triggered persistent slab avalanche stepped down to the surface hoar buried a month ago.

Snowpack Summary

15-35cm of recent snow is generally bonding well to the previous snow surface, which includes a crust, facets and/or surface hoar. Strong westerly winds created widespread hard and soft wind slabs in exposed areas, which are reactive to human triggers on steep wind-loaded rolls. Below treeline, the surface snow is undergoing daily melt-freeze cycles with the upper metre of snow becoming wet and losing cohesion by mid-afternoon. Concerns remain for a patchy persistent weakness buried a month ago, and deeper in the snowpack, basal facets may become a concern with continued mild temperatures. Cornices are well-developed and could easily become unstable during periods of warm weather or direct solar radiation.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Fresh thin wind slabs are lurking immediately downwind of ridge crests and exposed terrain features. They are susceptible to human triggering in steep terrain and heavy loading may cause natural avalanches.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 4