Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 11th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Cornices and Wind Slabs.
cgarritty,
Avalanche Canada
Tune in and anticipate the effects of warming as you travel. It will affect increasingly high elevations and shaded aspects over the coming days.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: Clear. Light north or northeast winds.
Monday: Sunny. Light to moderate northeast winds, increasing over the day and overnight. Alpine high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels to 1600 metres, remaining elevated overnight.
Tuesday: Sunny. Light to moderate northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around +5 with freezing levels to 2300 metres, remaining elevated overnight.
Wednesday: Sunny. Light north winds. Alpine high temperatures around +7 with freezing levels to 2400 metres, remaining elevated overnight.
Avalanche Summary
Saturday's MIN was active! Many users in the region and in the neighbouring Sea to Sky and South Coast Inland encountered unstable snow conditions. Avalanche activity appears to have been limited to the depth of our latest storm snow.
Looking forward, Monday's concerns should be limited to lingering wind slabs in steep features at ridgecrest and predictable wet loose activity connected to daytime warming. Tuesday ushers in the start of a dramatic warming trend that will begin to expand the extent of wet loose concerns to higher elevation, more shaded aspects
Snowpack Summary
New surface melt-freeze crusts formed on solar aspects by the end of the day Saturday atop 30-40 cm of new snow, tapering with elevation, that accumulated through Friday night. Moderate to strong winds, varying from southeast to northwest, have left behind varying levels of wind effect on many aspects in open terrain. Overall the new snow appears to have established a solid bond with the previous surfaces of crust and settled storm snow, however isolated slabs in steep, wind loaded features may remain reactive to human triggering.
Solar warming will break down surface crusts and encourage wet loose releases -both natural and human triggered- each day on solar aspects and increasingly toward shaded alpine terrain as freezing levels march upward over the coming days.
Cornices are large and looming along ridgelines and formed fragile new growth during Friday's storm. Their release is unpredictable, requiring a large berth if you're travelling above or below them. Forecast rising freezing levels will increase the chances of cornice releases.
Terrain and Travel
- Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
Problems
Loose Wet
Surface snow will lose cohesion and become unstable with solar warming during the day. Avoid exposing yourself to terrain where a small wet loose release could have big consequences.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large and looming along many ridgelines and will have formed fragile new growth with the recent snow and wind. They become increasingly unstable during periods of warming.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Isolated wind slabs may still react to human triggering in steep features at ridgecrest.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 12th, 2021 4:00PM
