Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2014 8:00AM

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

Parks Canada chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

A poor overnight freeze resulted in several large avalanches. Expect touchy conditions until we see the freezing levels drop.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A cold front is expected to pass through the region later this afternoon/evening, bringing flurries and dropping the freezing levels to below 1000m overnight. Currently, freezing levels are in excess of 2000m. Winds will be moderate, gusting to strong, from the SW.

Snowpack Summary

A poor overnight freeze has left the surface snow moist at tree-line and alpine elevations, although some dry snow may be found on due north aspects above 2400m. Several crust layers in the upper 1-1.5m are potential sliding layers if the warmth percolates deeper into the snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack are very well settled.

Avalanche Summary

Plenty of activity overnight, due to the poor freeze overnight. A cornice-triggered size 3 slab pulled out of Grizzly Bowl overnight on a SE aspect. A size 3 slab failed off Avalanche Crest, running into low angle terrain. A glide-crack failed off of a S-facing slope on Cheops, producing a good size 3 that failed to ground, running into the creek.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
With high freezing levels, snow is particularly unstable on steeper terrain and at lower elevations. This heavy snow will pinwheel down the mountain, gathering mass, and is a clear indicator of snow stability decreasing.
Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
The recent storm snow has not fully bonded to the underlying crust and surface hoar layer. Combined with the warm temp's, it has become a touchy surface slab that is reacting in higher elevation lee areas.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
We may see the deeper instabilities reawaken with the warm temperatures, and possibly rain, moving into the snowpack. Try to avoid shallow, thin areas where a person could trigger a deeper weakness.
Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Apr 9th, 2014 8:00AM