Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada KT, Avalanche Canada

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A blip of new snow coming on Tuesday with strong winds will form new reactive windslabs. Despite it being spring, winter conditions still exist at higher elevations and northerly aspects.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet loose avalanches to size 2 were observed on steep solar slopes the past few days.

Snowpack Summary

15 - 30 cm of new snow from this past weekend has become moist at and below treeline and is refreezing overnight. This along with windslab in the alpine sits on an older melt-freeze crust at all aspects and elevations. The Feb 3rd crust/facet weak layer is buried 60-120 cm deep. Below this, the snowpack consists of a mixture of settled snow and crust/facet layers to ground. Snowpack depths between 80 - 250 cm.

Weather Summary

Tues

5-10 cm snow overnight and into the day Tues. Wind 30-50 km/hr from the SW and freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Wed

Mainly sunny, wind NW becoming SW 10-20 km/hr. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Thurs

Freezing level 2500 m. Light southwest wind.

For more info: Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow with strong SW winds on Tuesday will form small but reactive windslabs on top of old windslab or crust.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

When new snow from Tuesday gets warm and moist on Wednesday there will likely be widespread wet-loose avalanches on steep slopes that run on the underlying crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Apr 11th, 2024 4:00PM