Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 18th, 2013 10:10AM

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

Avalanche Canada swerner, Avalanche Canada

If you have any snowpack or avalanche observations, feel free to send them to forecaster@avalanche.ca. We'd love to hear from you.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Initially, the approaching frontal system will spread light-moderate precipitation amounts with rising freezing levels. Towards the end of the forecast period a cooling, drying trend will take place before the big warm-up next week.Friday: Overcast with light precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds will blow moderate from the SW and freezing levels will rise to 2000 m.Saturday: Overcast with moderate precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds will blow moderate from the NW and freezing levels near 1500 m then falling to valley bottom overnight.Sunday: Mostly sunny skies with a cooling, drying trend. Freezing levels will rise to 1000 m by the afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, no new avalanche activity was reported.On Tuesday, In the adjacent region a size 2 slab avalanche was skier triggered on a NW aspect at 2500 m. The hard slab failed approximately 3 m above the skier. There were no injuries. Additionally, skiers triggered a size 3 slab on a buried crust on an east aspect in the alpine on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Over the past 2 days, melt-freeze crusts have formed on solar aspects. North aspects remain dry, with new surface hoar development and surface faceting. Recent storm snow and variable winds have formed wind slabs at treeline and above. Cornices on ridgelines have grown large, and pose a threat to slopes below.A weak interface buried early April is down about 60-120 cm and consists of a crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on high-elevation northerly aspects. The slab above this interface may be reaching it's tipping point with additional loading from forecast snow and wind.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at treeline and above. Cornices have grown very large, so be aware of overhead hazards and stay back on ridgelines.
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
A weak interface buried in the upper metre of the snowpack can create surprisingly large avalanches. It's been reactive in nearby regions, and remains a concern with professionals. Be cautious in steep, alpine terrain.
Be aware of thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilites.>Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 6

Valid until: Apr 19th, 2013 2:00PM