Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 22nd, 2017 4:03PM
The alpine rating is Cornices, Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries / Light southwest wind / Freezing level 2000mMONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light southwest wind / Freezing level 2000mTUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Freezing level 1900mNOTE: Convective flurries, which are common this time of year, can result in widely varying snowfall amounts. These spring squalls routinely drop 20+ cm of snow in one valley while the adjacent drainage remains dry. For this reason, the distribution of avalanche problems associated with new snow vary greatly within a region.
Avalanche Summary
Although not in this region, a group of six ski tourers had a significant close call near Mount Sir Sanford on Friday afternoon. Multiple people were involved in a cornice triggered size 3 persistent slab avalanche on a north aspect at approximately 2800m. The entire seasons snowpack (roughly 300 cm) slid down to glacier ice in some areas. Exposure to large overhanging cornices remains a significant concern.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow tree line and above has been redistributed by west and south winds. Cornices remain large and continue to become more overhanging. The middle of the snowpack is generally well settled and continues to transition into a spring melt/freeze regime except for high elevation northerly aspects. Expect the entire thickness of the snowpack to be moist or wet at lower elevations. At upper elevations a deep persistent layer consisting of facets sitting on a crust that was buried back in November has been sporadically reactive to heavy loads such as a cornice fall or the weight of a smaller avalanche running.
Problems
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 23rd, 2017 2:00PM