Avalanche forecast

South Columbia

Apr 5 – 6, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    New snow combined with wind has created windslabs in the lee of terrain features.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    New snow and wind have made large cornices even bigger.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    With little re-freeze overnight and possible rain, conditions can change rapidly at lower elevations. Avalanche activity, snowballing, moist and wet snow are initial indicators of deterioration and increased hazard.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Saturday: Overcast with light to locally moderate precipitation possible. Winds moderate from the southwest. Freezing level 1600m. Sunday: A break between off-shore weather systems will bring overcast skies with a trace to light amounts of snow and some possible sunny breaks. Light south winds and 1500m freezing level.Monday: A weak ridge of high pressure starts to influence the weather pattern. Dry conditions and gradually rising freezing levels are forecast.

Avalanche Summary

Solar aspects have recently been very active showing lots of natural loose wet avalanches and cornice releases up to size 2.5 when the sun has been shining. Expect glide cracks to continue releasing with warm temperatures and rain at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

At upper elevations 20-30cm of new snow is covering a crust or moist snow. In some places in the alpine and at treeline this new snow may have buried a recently formed layer of surface hoar or facets. At lower elevations (below 2000m) rain has made the snow surface wet or moist down 50-100cm. New snow combined with wind will have made large cornices even bigger.

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