Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2016 8:27AM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Cornices, Wet Slabs and Loose Wet.

jsmith, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Spring Conditions. Expect avalanche hazard to increase throughout the day, especially during periods of warm, sunny weather. Failing cornices could trigger large avalanches running to valley bottoms. Watch out for what's above your head.

Summary

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Freezing level: 3000m, sunny, light southwest ridgetop winds. SUNDAY: Freezing level: 2500m, sunny, light southwesterly ridgetop winds. MONDAY: Freezing level: 2500m, sunny, light southwesterly ridgetop winds.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday there was a widespread wet loose natural avalanche cycle reported to size 2 on all aspects/elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large, fragile, and could trigger deep slab avalanches that run to valley bottoms. Monitoring the overnight freeze of the snow surface is very important during the spring. If the snow surface does not freeze overnight or if the crust is only a few cm thick, the effect of daytime heating and solar radiation will weaken the snowpack much more quickly than it would if there is a well frozen thick crust. This is because the crust must first melt before the sun can weaken the snowpack. Deeply buried weak layers in the mid snowpack and near the ground still have the potential to wake up and become active with a rapid warm up. While unlikely, releases on these deeply buried weak layers would result in very large avalanches. Glide cracks are widespread, active, and best avoided. Low elevation and thin snowpack areas have become isothermal, meaning the snowpack is 0 degrees Celsius throughout. An isothermal snowpack is more prone to full depth wet slab avalanches during the heat of the day.

Problems

Cornices

If the sun is shining, cornices present a significant hazard. Even if they don't trigger a slab avalanche when they fall onto a slope, they have a nasty habit of running surprisingly long distances.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices. >Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes. >Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on ridges. >

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Wet Slabs

Rapid warm ups can awaken dormant weak layers deep in the snowpack.

Avoid rocky, shallow, and/or steep slopes during the heat of the day. >Parking, eating lunch, and regrouping in runout zones is bad practice.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Loose Wet

Solar radiation in the spring can rapidly change the hazard from low to high. Plan ahead and monitor the effect of solar radiation carefully.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet. >Look for signs of surface instabilities such as pinwheeling and point releasing near cliffs. >

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 9th, 2016 2:00PM