Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 17th, 2024 3:30PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Dry, Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
JMackenzie,
Avalanche Canada
Recent new snow has given a nice reset to the region. Be aware of sluffing and newly formed wind slabs, especially at higher elevations.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Two naturally triggered loose dry avalanches up to size 2.0 were observed in extreme Alpine terrain on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow totals are highly variable depending on drainage and elevation. On average 5cm of new snow fell overnight bringing recent storm snow totals to 30cm at Treeline. This fresh snow overlies a moist crust and is bonding well except at higher elevations. Wind slabs are evident at 2400m and above, and could be sensitive to human triggering. The deeper persistent weak layers are still a concern where the snowpack is thin or when the crusts break down with direct solar radiation and/or daytime heating.
Weather Summary
Thursday may start off at -18C!!!! Then it should be mainly sunny with cloudy periods in the afternoon. Temperatures will climb to -4C with light to moderate northerly winds.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be cautious of sluffing.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Problems
Loose Dry
New storm snow sluffing easily on buried frozen layers at upper elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs are possible on all aspects due to recently variable winds. Check the new snow bond with the underlying crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Still a problem on the polar aspects in alpine areas.
Aspects: North, North East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 18th, 2024 3:00PM
