Good travel conditions continue with a mix of corn skiing on solar aspects and powder on high North aspects. Watch for the effects of daytime heating on the snowpack and enjoy the spring skiing!
Summary
Weather Forecast
Continued dry weather with light winds forecast for Monday with freezing levels near valley bottom overnight. On Tuesday freezing levels spike to near 3000m before a cold front moves through the region in the afternoon accompanied but strong winds and brief but intense snowfall. Wednesday sees a cooling and drying trend again.
Snowpack Summary
5-15cm of recent snow in the high alpine on North aspects from a brief storm Friday. Some small, isolated wind slabs up to 30cm were reported on the Wapta on Friday. Firm crusts up to 10cm thick remain intact at most elevations below the recent snow.
Avalanche Summary
A few solar triggered slides off of steep solar aspects today. No other avalanches seen or reported.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
We will start to see in increase in solar triggered avalanche activity on Monday and Tuesday as the temperatures rise during the day.
- Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.
- Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
There have been several cornice failures over the past week, and in isolated events these have been a large enough load to trigger deeper basal layers.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 27th, 2015 6:35PM