Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 20th, 2019 8:09AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Storm Slabs.
Kate Ryan,
Parks Canada
Manage your exposure to solar slopes carefully! Today is the first solar input on the new storm snow in the alpine.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud is forecast today with freezing levels rising to 2000m and winds switching to light from the NW. A clear night tonight will be followed by more of the same tomorrow, with freezing levels rising to 2300m. Monday, a Pacific front arrives bringing 35mm of precipitation by Wednesday and freezing levels up to 2500m.
Snowpack Summary
A thin surface crust exists this morning, but expect it to break down quickly. We have received 35 mm of precipitation in the past 36 hours, falling primarily as rain up to ~1900 m and accompanied by mod to strong S'ly winds. The snowpack is isothermal BTL and thin areas at TL. Dry snow can still be found on Northerly aspects in the high alpine.
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle with numerous size 3-3.5 avalanches occurred yesterday in the east highway corridor, primarily from north aspects in the alpine. Many of these avalanches initiated as wet slabs from yesterday's rain event.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
The recent rain even has soaked the snowpack treeline and below. Thin surface melt-freeze crusts are capping weak isothermal snow treeline and below, and higher on solar aspects.
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Up to 50 cm of storm snow has accumulated in the high alpine. Today is the first exposure to strong solar since the passing of the storm. If initiated, these storm slabs may gain mass if they hit moist snow at treeline and below.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Recent snow may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar aspects where it sits on sun crust
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 21st, 2019 8:00AM
