Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 20th, 2017 4:13PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Cornices and Persistent Slabs.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
We switched to "Spring Conditions" today and will no longer issue danger ratings. The snowpack is so variable through the day. The key this time of year is to start early (first light) and be done by noon.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday looks like it will be a pretty nice day, with clear skies by the afternoon. Freezing levels will reach 2400m, and expect warm temperatures in the afternoon and in any sunny locations.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is a real mixed bag right now: totally dependent on aspect and elevation. At treeline and above, melt freeze crusts exist to ridge top on solar aspects, while on north aspects, dry surface snow still exists above ~2200m. Below treeline the snowpack becomes wet through the day. The snowpack is slowly changing to a spring snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
Afternoon warming will create loose wet problems at low elevations and on S and W facing terrain at higher elevations.
- Pay attention to sluffing off cliffs and steep solar terrain, signs of a warming snowpack.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices continue to fail. Minimize your time underneath these and remember that a cornice failure could also trigger the deep persistent slab on the basal facets.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The snowpack is gaining strength, however the facets deeper in the snowpack remain a concern in thin alpine areas and where a cornice could trigger the slope.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 21st, 2017 4:00PM
