Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 19th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada DH, Avalanche Canada

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The hazard may be locally elevated if more snow falls than forecast.

Assess the bond of new snow before increasing your exposure, human triggering remains possible.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday a field team was able to easily trigger several small slab avalanches at the interface of Sunday's storm.

On Monday a remotely triggered size 2 slab avalanche occurred at Balu pass.

Minimal natural avalanche activity in recent days.

Snowpack Summary

12cm of new snow sits over a crust on all aspects except high due north which still hold dry snow. Below this the Apr 9 crust is down 20-40cm (BTL) and Mar 31 crust is down 40-60cm. Both remain reactive in tests.

The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong but the Nov 17 basal weakness can still be found 20-40cm off the ground.

Weather Summary

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries continues through to the weekend.

Tonight: Cloudy w/ flurries 5cm, Alp low -7 °C, light winds, FZL 1000m

Thurs: Cloudy w/ sunny periods flurries, Alp high -3 °C, light southwest winds, FZL 1900m

Fri: Sun/cloud, isolated flurries, Alp high -4 °C, light west winds, FZL 1900m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Expect storm slab reactivity to persist longer in wind loaded features and/or where it sits over a crust. Where the sun comes out and warms the surface snow it may be enough to increase reactivity and time to scale back your exposure.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Snow that fell in the past 2 weeks covers a series of crusts combined with surface hoar/facets in some locations. These layers have shown wide propagation and remain a concern. Storm slabs in motion have the potential to step down to these layers creating large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 20th, 2023 4:00PM

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