Avalanche Forecast
Issued: May 2nd, 2019 4:32PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
Brian Webster,
Parks Canada
Localized snow amount may very at higher elevations. Deeper areas could develop larger then expected wind slabs.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Mixed sun and cloud with isolated convective flurries forecasted through the end of the week. Forecasted strong winds on Thursday night will diminish by mid-day on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 25cm of new snow and recent winds have created soft slabs in immediate lees in the alpine. Moist snow observed up to 2400m on solar aspect, but alpine north aspects staying dry. Concern still exist for a facet layer down 30-50 cm which is producing clean shears with snow-pit tests.
Avalanche Summary
Small wet loose avalanches were observed on solar aspects on Thursday. Tuesday our field team observed two slab avalanches in the Observation Peak area. These avalanches where triggered on the persistent problem down 40 cm.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
This instability continues to rear its ugly head in areas where a slab sits over previously formed crusts. Though not widespread, where this layer dose exist expect it to be reactive. Tuesday we observed two large avalanches fail on this layer.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Continued precipitation and moderate winds have formed small pockets of wind slab in immediate lee features at higher elevations. Though in many areas these slab will be small, localized areas of heaver accumulation may have formed large slabs.
- The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
- Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If the sun comes out for any length of time expect loose wet avalanches out of steep sun exposed terrain.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: May 3rd, 2019 4:00PM
