Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 5th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

Snow Safety,

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Recent new snow amounts are highly variable which contributes to a fair amount of uncertainty with the hazard rating. Expect to see a wide variety of surface conditions and be ready to adjust your expectations  based on what you see in the terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will build Wednesday with weakening ridge top winds through the day and mostly sunny skies by the afternoon. Freezing levels from 1600-1800m expected on Wednesday, falling to valley bottom Wednesday night. Thursday will be mostly sunny with rising freezing levels and SW winds increasing to strong by Friday AM. 

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of recent storm snow sits on a crust that can be found on all aspects up to ~2300m and higher on solar aspects. Variable snow depths, some high alpine areas on the Divide report up to 30cm dry surface snow. Consistent winds have formed fresh windslabs in lee terrain. Some loose wet avalanches are expected in the afternoon below treeline.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous avalanches were reported on Sunday out of high alpine terrain on the Divide: Cornice on Kindergarten Couloir, avalanche on the Stanley Headwall, sluffs with a partial burial on the Bell Couloir, sluffs on Mt. Victoria. On Tuesday the local ski hills reported explosive triggered wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 out of lee alpine terrain.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow amounts are extremely variable but high alpine areas have seen fresh snow and wind over the past 48-hours which will have formed windslabs.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent loading has created reactive slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

This is generally an afternoon problem at low elevations. Ice climbers should ensure they are finished their routes early and be out of any gullies by mid-day at the latest.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 6th, 2022 4:00PM

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