Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 17th, 2017 4:31PM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs, Cornices and Loose Wet.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
We're looking at unsettled and variably wet spring weather throughout the forecast period. TUESDAY: Wet snow Monday overnight through Tuesday (10-20cm by Tuesday afternoon). Freezing level around 1600 m. Winds moderate southwesterly.WEDNESDAY: More wet snow (10-15cm) above 1500m. Winds strong southerly.THURSDAY: Flurries continue (5-10cm) with snow above 1600m. Winds 20-30 km/h from the south.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday we had preliminary reports of an avalanche involvement in the Tantalus range near 2000m, aspect not known. All in the party got out safely.On Sunday, skiers triggered a Size 1.5 slab avalanche in a northwest facing couloir in the alpine near Whistler. See here for their MIN report. On Saturday, skiers triggered a Size 1.5 wind slab on the Spearhead traverse near Fissile, on a southwest aspect. See here for more details.
Snowpack Summary
Late last week we had 20-30 cm of settling storm snow above 1500m. Pockets of reactive wind slab (5-40cm thick) can still be found in the alpine and exposed features at treeline - this has surprised skiers throughout the long weekend (see Avalanche Summary above). Warm temperatures on Sunday (+5 at treeline) resulted in a melt-freeze crust on most aspects and elevations at treeline and below. Cornices remain large in some areas and could trigger large avalanches when they fail. The fatal accident near Lions Bay a week ago illustrates the danger of cornices breaking off, and the large avalanches they can trigger.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 18th, 2017 2:00PM