Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 30th, 2014 8:00AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet, Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

A sunny heat wave is finishing off April with a bang. Poor overnight crust recoveries are expected the next couple of days, increasing the danger ratings.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Warm and sunny with cloudy periods. Freezing levels are expected to rise to 3500m today, lower to 3300m overnight, then back up to 3600m tomorrow. This means there will be no overnight recovery of the surface crusts in the next couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Our weather data shows a poor freeze above 2000m overnight, but an inversion has set up a solid 10cm crust at valley bottom. Dry snow can still be found on due north aspects above 2000m. At tree line, the top 50 cm of snow are moist with several crusts in the top meter of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

There have been a few natural moist loose avalanches to size 2 occurring daily. Today will be sunny and warmer than yesterday, so more avalanche activity is expected. In addition, glide cracks are opening up on many slopes.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

The surface crust will break down quickly with the strong sun today. Over the next few days, the overnight temp's will not fall below zero. Thus, surface crusts will not form overnight and loose, wet avalanches will likely occur.

Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The deeper persistent weak layers will now come into play as the warmth heats up the snowpack to their depths. As the temp's increase over the next couple of days, expect to see deeper avalanches releasing.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 4

Storm Slabs

Some lingering windslabs may be present in isolated alpine pockets.

Plan to be off big slopes before the temperatures rises and the snowpack deteriorates.Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: May 1st, 2014 8:00AM