Another sunny and warm day might sustain wet loose avalanche potential on solar aspects. The likelihood for this to be limited to small releases on isolated slopes in extreme terrain keeps danger low.
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Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mainly clear. Light east winds.
THURSDAY: Mainly sunny, clouding over in the evening. Light east winds shifting southwest. Treeline high temperatures around 0 to +1.
FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with cloud increasing and light flurries overnight. Light to moderate south winds, increasing over the day. Treeline high temperatures around 0.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with increasing flurries bringing 10-20 cm of new snow, including Friday overnight amounts. Moderate to strong south winds. Treeline high temperatures around -1.
Avalanche Summary
A few natural wind slab releases were observed in the Bear Pass area on Tuesday afternoon. These reached size 2 (large) and were limited to steep, wind loaded features in the alpine. Otherwise, little avalanche activity was reported over the early part of the week.
Sunday's reports included one observation of a large (size 2.5) natural cornice fall northwest of Terrace, a great reminder of continuously looming cornice hazards. Late in the afternoon, wet loose releases reaching size 2.5 were observed on steep south aspects in the Icy Pass area.
Saturday's reports included observations of an older natural size 3 (very large) wind slab as well as pinwheeling and minor point releases from steep solar terrain.
On Thursday, a size 3.5 natural cornice failure triggered a deep slab on the steep slope below which ran full path.
Looking forward to Thursday, another sunny day with a slight rise in freezing levels may sustain some potential for small wet loose reactivity.
Snowpack Summary
Light new snow amounts from Monday night through Tuesday mainly buried heavily wind-affected surfaces in open areas, the product of strong outflow wind early last week. In sheltered areas, the flurries may have added to limited stashes of soft, potentially faceted snow. After warming and subsequent freeze on Wednesday, it will add to the growing tally of crusts on solar aspects.
Below 1200 m, a more widespread crust exists at or near the surface. Above 1200 m, 40 to 80 cm of settled storm snow is well bonded to another hard melt-freeze crust from late March.
Terrain and Travel
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Problems
Cornices
Cornices are large this time of year and were likely weakened by recent cold temperatures. Exposure to cornices should be minimized, especially during periods of warm temperatures or strong sun. Give them a wide berth when you are travelling on ridge lines and avoid overhead exposure to large cornices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches, likely small, will be possible on steep, sun-exposed slopes in the afternoon. Manage your exposure to steep solar slopes if the surface becomes moist or wet.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 21st, 2022 4:00PM
