Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 1st, 2014 8:00AM

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

ali haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

The avalanche hazard will be low this morning but will steadily increase as the day heats up, specially on sun exposed slopes today. Remember that the surface snow does not need to be moist for a deeper instabilities to get triggered.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Ridge of high pressure will dominate over the interior today and tomorrow. Clear skies and warm alpine temperatures are forecast with strong solar radiation. Freezing levels are expected to rise to 1500m with light winds. A low moves in on Thursday giving us colder temperatures and snow.

Snowpack Summary

Temperature crust on solar aspects, the Mar 22 down ~ 30-50cm, the Mar 13 crust down 75cm, the Mar 2 down 1-1.5m. On north aspects the upper snowpack consists of settling storm snow to about 1600m below which there will be a crust. The Feb 10 surface hoar crust layer is down 2m.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday 1 skier controlled avalanche, size 1.5 on an immediate lee feature of a ridge top, Nw asp, 2420m, down 20cm on the March 22 crust, 100m long and 25m wideNo new avalanches observed yesterday along the highway corridor.

Confidence

on Tuesday

Problems

Loose Wet

Strong solar radiation is expected today. Think about getting off sun exposed slope when the crusts that formed overnight break down. Watch for loose avalanches below cliffs as an indication that things are becoming dangerous.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

The sun will get deep into the snowpack today and could reawaken one of the many buried weak layers. Avoid slopes where rocks are evident on the surface as they are likely to attract more heat to trigger those layers.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Cornices

Manage your groups exposure to the overhead cornice hazard. Remember that even though you may be on a shaded north aspect, if there's a cornice above you on the ridge it will be baking in the sun.

Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 2nd, 2014 8:00AM