Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 20th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

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Avalanche danger will be closely linked to daytime warming and solar effect. Observe local conditions and use that information to help select terrain and travel techniques. Match terrain to conditions!

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported; however, few people or organizations are still reporting regularly.

Snowpack Summary

Generally, spring is advancing and the winter snowpack is melting away, at least at lower elevations.

Dry, powder snow may remains at higher elevations on north-facing terrain, along with the potential for fresh wind and storm slabs. While melt-freeze crusts or moist snow are likely to be found on steep solar slopes and at lower elevations.

Avalanche danger will be closely coupled to daytime warming and melting. The more the crust weakens, and the deeper the wetness goes, the greater the hazard from wet loose avalanches.

The mid- and lower-snowpack is generally well-settled. In some areas, the lower snowpack may have a layer of weak facets near the ground.

Weather Summary

Thursday Overnight

Cloudy with clear periods and flurries; 2 to 5 cm of precipitation. Light, with moderate gusts, southwest winds. Treeline temperatures around -5 C. Freezing level around 800m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with between a trace to a few cm of precipitation, in favoured upslope locations near treeline. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around -3 C. Freezing level around 1900 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Just a trace of new snow with a few locations getting as much as 5 cm. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures between -5 C to near zero. Freezing level around 1900 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries and around 2 to 5 cm of snow. Light to moderate southerly winds. Treeline temperatures around zero and freezing level around 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Expect storm and wind slabs to be most reactive in localized areas that have received more recent snow, or steep leeward slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 21st, 2023 4:00PM