Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 26th, 2014 8:49AM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

We are no longer issuing danger ratings for this region due to a lack of field data.Please refer to this blog post for more insight into managing the current conditions.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The weather should remain cool and unsettled through Monday. Expect light snow falls with rain below 1000 metres as the freezing levels drop to 1000 metres overnight and rise up to about 1700 metres during the day. A ridge of high pressure is forecast to build on Monday, bringing clear skies, very warm temperatures, and rapidly rising freezing levels with no overnight freezing.

Avalanche Summary

Expect new wind slabs and thin storm slabs to develop above recent melt-freeze crusts. These slabs may be easily triggered due to the hard sliding layer of the melt-freeze crust. Daily melt-freeze cycles may be weakening cornices, and they may fall off naturally or be easily triggered. Rain at lower elevations may cause new snow to weaken rapidly and slide out of steep terrain, sometimes gathering mass in constrained terrain features.

Snowpack Summary

The spring snow-pack is comprised of many layers of melt-freeze crusts, thin new snow layers, and stiff wind slabs in the alpine. The snow-pack may be very different depending on elevation, with moist or wet snow in the valleys and near winter conditions in the alpine. The weather can change rapidly at this time of year, and this may result in different types of avalanche problems. Danger is most likely to increase if there is a substantial new snow storm with wind, or if the temperatures increase rapidly with or without sunshine. Our plan is to place a link in the headline that explains general risk scenarios associated with the forecast weather. We will not issue danger ratings for this region due to the lack of data as a result of professional operators closing for the season.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Forecast new snow and wind may result in new wind slabs developing in the alpine and at treeline. Wind slabs may not be well bonded to recent melt-freeze crusts.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
During day time warming snow may become moist or wet and slide easily at lower elevations and on solar exposed aspects.
Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
Cornices may become weak from loading from new snow and wind, or from day time warming.
Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 27th, 2014 2:00PM