Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 7th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Cornices.
astclair,
Avalanche Canada
Forecast snowfall totals are uncertain. Dial back terrain choices where you find more than 20 cm of new snow as human-triggering avalanches may be likely.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday night: Cloudy, 5-15 cm of snow, moderate southwest wind, freezing level dropping to 1300 m.
Thursday: Mainly cloudy, 5-10 cm of snow, light west wind, treeline temperatures near -7 C, freezing level rising to 1500 m and dropping to valley bottom.
Friday: Increasing cloud, isolated flurries with trace accumulations, moderate southwest wind, treeline temperatures near -2 C, freezing level rising to 1600 m and dropping to valley bottom.
Saturday: Cloudy, 10-15 cm of snow, light west wind, treeline temperatures near -4 C, freezing level rising to 1500 m and dropping to valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday and Tuesday, pinwheels and small loose wet avalanches were observed on steep sunny alpine slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 25 cm of new snow may accumulate in favored areas in the region by midday on Thursday accompanied with moderate southwest winds. The combined snow and wind will likely form a new storm slab problem reactive to human triggering. Cornices are large, looming, and capable of triggering avalanches when they fail.
The mid-pack is firm and well settled. Some faceted snow and a decomposing melt-freeze crust can be found near the base of the snowpack. Snow line is slowly creeping up the mountains to roughly 1400 m in elevation. Check out this MIN report for more details on the access from common staging areas.
Glide cracks releasing as full depth glide slab avalanches become more common in the spring and are extremely difficult to predict. Best practice is to avoid slopes with glide cracks.
Terrain and Travel
- Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
- Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Forecast new snow and wind are expected for form fresh storm slabs that will likely be reactive to human triggering. This problem is expected to become more reactive as the day goes on and as the wind creates touchier conditions.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large and looming along many ridgelines. They are capable of triggering large avalanches when they fail.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 8th, 2021 4:00PM
