Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Apr 19 – 20, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Winter continues to hang on at higher elevations. Expect loose wet avalanches on sun exposed slopes in the afternoon.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Cornices are large and fragile, expect then to fall off naturally during periods of strong solar radiation and during the warmest part of the day.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Loose wet avalanches are more likely during periods of strong solar radiation and daytime warming. Snow at lower elevations may become isothermal and release from steep terrain on all aspects.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Overnight: 3-5 cm of new snow with moderate southwest winds and freezing down to 500 metres. Thursday: Mostly cloudy with moderate west winds and daytime freezing up to 1500 metres. Friday: Mostly sunny with light winds and daytime freezing up to 1800 metres. Saturday: Overcast with strong southeast winds and daytime freezing up to 1800 metres.

Avalanche Summary

A MIN report from Monday describes a size 2.5 wet slab from the west aspect of Elliot peak at 1900 metres elevation. It is suspected that a small storm slab avalanche stepped down to the deeply buried November crust; this may have occurred on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of new snow have fallen over the past few days. I expect that this new snow will be well settled and moist on all but shaded aspects in the alpine. Changing winds may have developed some thin new wind slabs on several aspects. Lower elevations are experiencing a melt-freeze cycle and the snowpack is likely moist or wet throughout its entire thickness. A deep persistent weak layer is still lingering near the bottom of the snowpack in all areas.

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