Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 6th, 2021 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
Chris Gooliaff,
The Spring Sun will cook up some avalanches as it warms the slopes. Save the suntanning for the beach and hustle across any solar-exposed terrain.
Lingering windslabs lurk on N through E aspects. Pay attention to these pockets as you drop your line.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure will maintain dry, sunny weather today. Snow moving in Wed.
Today: mix of sun and cloud, FZL 2000m, ridge wind SW 15km/h gusting 40km/h.
Wed: Snow. 15-20cm, Alp high -4*C, FZL 1600m, ridge wind 20km/h gusting 60km/h
Thurs: Cloudy with isolated flurries and sun, trace precip, FZL 1400m, ridge winds 20km/h gusting 45km/h
Snowpack Summary
15-30cm of snow fell at treeline overnight Saturday and into Sunday; this was rain below 1200m. Wind blasted surfaces and suncrusts exist below the new snow, while the March 18th suncrust and surface hoar is buried ~80cm at treeline. Spring melt/freeze conditions prevail below treeline and on solar aspects to treeline.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, a lone size 3.0 wind slab released naturally from the north side of Mt. Macdonald. Sunday, a skier triggered a large wind slab on the north side of Cheops and field teams were able to ski cut small size 1.0 wind slabs on a convex roll below the Asulkan hut. Saturday, a group triggered a size 2 in a shallow, wind loaded area.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
15-30cm of new snow with strong S'ly winds has created new wind slabs on ridgecrests and open alpine features. There have been a few skier accidental and skier controlled avalanches on this layer in the past few days!
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.
- Use caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Avalanche activity will follow the strong Spring sunshine. Solar aspects will shed the recent snow as the sun warms the slopes - SE in the morning, S'ly midday, SW and W in the afternoon.
- Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 7th, 2021 8:00AM
