Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 9th, 2019 8:00AM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

percy woods, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Watch for strong solar input if the sun comes out. Start early, finish early. Expect challenging skiing below treeline. Watch for windslabs on northerly aspects.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and a freezing level rising to 2100m is the call for today. There is a possibility of afternoon thunder showers in the mix as well depending on which forecast you review. Ridge winds are expected to be NW and nudging into moderate. Wednesday looks very similar to today with flurries beginning Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of wind slabs at tree line and alpine elevations. The 20cm of recent snow buries a melt freeze crust on all aspects to tree line. Below the crust, the top 50cm is becoming moist during the day, isothermal in thin snowpack areas BTL. Elsewhere the lower snowpack is strong where over 2m.

Avalanche Summary

A new size 2 slab estimated to be 50m wide and 40cm released off the far skier's right on Video Peak yesterday.Cheops 1 released a size 2.5 slab sometime on Sunday. Several slides throughout the highway corridor to size 2.5 all thought to be from Sunday. Some point releases on solar are triggering slab avalanches.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

20cm of recent snow and moderate Southerly winds have created wind slabs in alpine lee features. These slabs sit on a melt-freeze crust and could be sensitive to human triggering. A surface hoar layer may be buried ~20cm on Northerly alpine terrain.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Surface melt-freeze crusts are capping weak isothermal snow in thin snowpack areas BTL. These crusts are also prevalent at tree-line and above on solar aspects. Crusts have been breaking down by mid afternoon from the heat of the day.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 10th, 2019 8:00AM