Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 7th, 2019 8:00AM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

mark herbison, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Prepare for adventurous travel below tree line where variable melt-freeze crusts and challenging skiing exist. Skier triggered wind slabs are possible in Northerly alpine terrain where you can still find winter snow.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with a chance of isolated flurries throughout the day. Alpine high of -3, freezing level to 1900m and Westerly winds 15-45km/hr. Similar forecast for the next few days with a possibility of snow on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Pockets of wind slabs at tree line and alpine elevations. The 15cm of recent snow buries a melt freeze crust on all aspects to tree line. Below the crust, the top 50cm is becoming moist during the day, isothermal in thin snowpack areas BTL. Elsewhere the lower snowpack is strong where over 2m.

Avalanche Summary

Reports of several size 1.0 skier triggered avalanches in the Connaught drainage from steep, wind loaded terrain. No new avalanche observations along the highway corridor for the past two days.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

15cm of recent snow and moderate Southerly winds have created wind slabs in alpine lee features. These slabs sit on a melt-freeze crust and could be sensitive to human triggering. A surface hoar layer may be buried ~20cm on Northerly alpine terrain.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Surface melt-freeze crusts are capping weak isothermal snow in thin snowpack areas BTL. These crusts are also prevalent at tree-line and above on solar aspects. Crusts have been breaking down by mid afternoon from the heat of the day.

Use extra caution on solar slopes if the sun is shinning or if the snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 8th, 2019 8:00AM