Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 21st, 2022 4:56PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Tim Haggarty,
Small reactive windslabs can be found at treeline and above.
Convective flurries could bring locally heavy snowfall Friday combined with rising freezing levels. The hazard may rise in isolated locations associated with the increased snowfall amounts.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Unsettled weather can be expected Thursday evening with convective flurries into the day Friday. Expect freezing levels to just reach 1500m overnight before a rise to around 2000m Friday. Winds variable and light. Snowfall amounts look to range from 5-10 cm although the convective nature of this weather may bring much more in isolated locations
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of snow fell on April 19/20 with significant wind to form slabs at treeline and above. This snow sits on thin suncrusts to 2500m and as much as 20cm of snow ( which tapers with elevation and is wind affected in the alpine) over the April 8 crusts which are found everywhere but above 2500m on N aspects. Expect a new sun crust Friday.
Avalanche Summary
A road patrol to 93S today found the limited natural cycle following the April 19 storm to be ongoing today with solar triggering of small windslabs at treeline. Since the snow arrived the ski hills have worked with small reactive slabs and it appears skiers triggered a few small slabs on the east face of Mt Whymper either today or yesterday.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
Problems
Wind Slabs
10-20 cm new with strong winds on Tuesday created wind slabs at treeline and above. These slabs sit on sun crusts and firm wind affected snow making them sensitive to triggering and giving them the potential to run far.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 22nd, 2022 4:00PM
