Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 4th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
shorton,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for cornices and wind slabs near ridgetops.
Summary
Confidence
High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, 30 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures drop to -5 C.
MONDAY: Cloudy with light flurries in the afternoon bringing up to 5 cm of snow, 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperatures around -2 C.
TUESDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -2 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with some light flurries, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperatures around -2 C.
Avalanche Summary
During the recent storm on Friday and Saturday there were numerous reports of natural storm slab avalanches at upper elevations (up to size 2), as well as many loose wet avalanches on steep sun-exposed slopes on Saturday afternoon.
Over the past few week there have been some large natural and explosive triggered glide slab avalanches along the Skeena corridor. Glide cracks releasing as full depth glide slab avalanches are extremely difficult to predict. Best practice is to avoid slopes with glide cracks.
Snowpack Summary
40-60 cm of snow has fallen at upper elevations over the past week. While this snow is well settled, wind slabs may linger on steep open slopes. Sun crusts may be found on sun-exposed slopes. Cornices are large, looming, and capable of triggering large avalanches when they fail. Previous weak layers are now deeply buried and have not resulted in any recent avalanches.
At lower elevations, recent snow was mixed with rain, soaking the snow surface, which then formed a hard crust.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers. Use caution when transitioning into wind affected terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large and looming along many ridgelines, and have likely grown with the recent snow and wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 5th, 2021 4:00PM
