Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 5th, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Cornices and Loose Wet.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
The next big warm-up comes this way starting on Wednesday evening and continuing through Friday. The snowpack is unlikely to re-freeze overnight, and with continued rain and snow, the conditions will not be great for the next couple of days.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A series of warm low pressure systems are moving across BC and AB starting Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday evening. For Thursday expect freezing levels to 2300m, with treeline temperatures at +2. Rain in the valley bottom and snow above 2000m may accumulate 10cm before it stops. Friday will be cloudy and warm.
Snowpack Summary
A settled, mostly dry snowpack exists on shaded aspects above 2300m. On other aspects and below 2300m, expect morning crust and wet snow by mid-day. Concern remains about the integrity of the deeper snowpack; avoidance of large slopes is still recommended. Warmth over the next few days will release cornices and slush avalanches at lower elevations.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed or reported today (teams on the western side of the Wapta and at the Sunshine Village area).
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent weak layers deep in the snowpack continue to cause uncertainty, despite the surface layers being remarkably strong. Continue to avoid exposure to large slopes. Patience is a virtue as we wait for a melt/freeze cycle to change anything.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
April is cornice season, and we are getting regular reports of cornices failing. Mature cornices can propagate much further than you expect, so give them a wide margin when traveling on ridges and get up early and hurry if you must travel below them.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet snow flows like water in gullies during warm spring days, and the next few days we expect wet snow avalanches to be common in gully areas at and below treeline. Ice climbers - avoid steep low elevation gullies.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 6th, 2017 4:00PM
