Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 11th, 2019 8:06AM

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

Parks Canada ross campbell, Parks Canada

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All of the Winter Restricted Areas are closed today. Avalanche control with artillery fire and Remote Avalanche Control Systems is scheduled throughout the day.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Fog patches dissipating this morning; freezing levels rising from 800m to 1600m this afternoon, and a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries for the rest of the day. Winds should be light to moderate from the West. A dirty ridge of High-Pressure will pass over Rogers Pass on Friday, followed by showers and flurries for Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine, Isolated persistent slabs overlie surface hoar on shaded aspects, and melt-freeze crusts on solar aspects; beneath is a well settled mid and lower snowpack. A weak melt freeze crust is capping isothermal snow on all aspects to tree line; surface crusts exist at higher elevations on solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity tapered off yesterday with the lack of solar input. Numerous loose and slab avalanches to size 2.5 have been observed in the alpine on all aspects on Monday and Tuesday; including Video, Cheops, 8812, Grizzly, Catamount, Bagheera, up the Asulkan and Ille valleys. There is a MIN of a sz 2 slab avalanche on Mt Leda from Tuesday

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
A weak melt-freeze crust is capping frail isothermal snow in thin snowpack areas BTL. These crusts are prevalent at tree-line and above on solar aspects. Crusts have been breaking down by mid afternoon from the heat of the day.
Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
20cm of recent snow and moderate Southerly winds have created wind slabs on specific terrain features in the alpine. These slabs overlie a melt-freeze crust on solar asp and or, surface hoar on polar asp.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Apr 12th, 2019 8:00AM