Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 17th, 2012 8:13AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Loose Wet, Wet Slabs and Cornices.

Parks Canada sylvia forest, Parks Canada

The hazard may change rapidly from better to worse with daytime warming. The potential for large avalanches failing to ground is possible, but the consequences will be big. Good skiing can still be found with careful planning.

Summary

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
The snowpack is near zero degrees, and very little warming is needed to create wet slushy avalanches, especially on solar aspects at lower elevations. These can gain mass rapidly.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wet Slabs

An icon showing Wet Slabs
The upper snowpack is now moist and isothermal to 2000m with a series of crusts in the top 90 cm. The crusts provide potential failure plains and good bed surfaces for avalanches. Recent large avalanches have been failing to the ground.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
There is good potential for cornice falls to produce large avalanches. Glide cracks are as big as crevasses, and are failing to ground. Some of these are bridged by snow and are hard to see.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Apr 18th, 2012 8:00AM