Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 29th, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Cornices and Deep Persistent Slabs.
stephen holeczi,
Avalanche Canada
Good ski conditions continue. Watch for the quality of overnight freeze on your tour, and be off sun affected slopes early. Triggering of the deep persistent layer is currently going to be from a heavy load (cornice) or with high solar input. SH
Summary
Weather Forecast
Up to 10cm is expected in this region with light-moderate winds and mainly cloudy conditions, clearing in the afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
30-50cm of settled snow from this past week. There are a variety of melt freeze crusts in the upper snow pack on all aspects and elevations except for due north above 2300 m. A basal weakness remains at the bottom of the snow pack. It is currently only reactive to large triggers like cornices but may wake up with solar warming.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches were observed Saturday.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
Clearing skies Sunday afternoon will moisten the new snow on solar aspects increasing the likelihood of loose wet avalanches.
- Pay attention to sluffing off cliffs and steep solar terrain, signs of a warming snowpack.
- If triggered the loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices continue to fail especially with daytime heating. Minimize your time underneath these and remember that a cornice failure could also trigger the deep persistent slab on the basal facets.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The weak basal facets can produce large avalanches with large triggers or heat. Remember that the snowpack is generally strongest when it is cool and stick to planar, supported slopes with a deeper snowpack when entering steep terrain.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 30th, 2017 4:00PM
