Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 2nd, 2012 11:13AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: light to moderate snowfall - strong south winds - freezing level at 700m Wednesday: very light snowfall - moderate south winds - freezing levels at 900m Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud as a clearing trend develops - light north winds - freezing level at 1000m

Avalanche Summary

A size 1 windslab was ski cut on Monday on a steep roll in the north of the region. Expect a spike in wind slab avalanche activity with forecast weather.

Snowpack Summary

On Monday light amounts of new snow were redistributed by strong to extreme winds into hard and soft windslabs at higher elevations. The recently developed windslabs overlie melt freeze conditions that exist on all aspects below 1000 m and on sun-exposed aspects higher up. A surface hoar layer that formed in recent days was also buried on Monday and may become a layer of concern as the overlying slab develops. Cornices in the region are reported to be very large and potentially unstable.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Forecast strong winds and new snow will create fresh and reactive windslabs on lee terrain.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Cornices

Cornices are reported to be very large and potentially unstable at this time. A cornice fall could be destructive by itself, and may also act as a trigger on the slope below.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 6

Valid until: Apr 3rd, 2012 9:00AM