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Avalanche Forecast

Apr 4th, 2015–Apr 5th, 2015
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Sea To Sky.

Hazard may change to higher than forecast with daytime warming on solar aspects. Cornices should be regarded with respect and suspicion.

Confidence

Good - Due to the quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Light precipitation for this evening, then this weather system should be out of the Sea to Sky region by Sunday morning with another light pulse of weather on Sunday afternoon and into Monday morning. Clear skies and sunny conditions into next week. Daytime freezing levels are expected to be between 1000 and 1500 m for early part of next week, then climbing to 2000 by Wednesday.. Moderate southerly alpine winds are expected tonight, then light winds preominantly from the East..

Avalanche Summary

No recent reports of avalanches in the Sea to Sky region

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50cm of recent storm snow is sitting on a thin breakable crust that caps recent moist snow on rain crust buried last Saturday. Reports suggest this 5 cm thick solid rain crust exists up to at least 2200m. Strong southwest winds may have shifted these new accumulations into touchy wind slabs in exposed terrain. A facet/crust persistent weakness buried mid-March is down approximately 70-130 cm and is still producing hard but sudden results in snowpack tests. This remains the chief concern amongst avalanche professionals in the region due to it's potential for very large avalanches. Cornices are now large and a cornice failure might trigger a large destructive avalanche. Solar aspects will become active with daytime warming.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Reports of soft wind slabs that have developed on lee slopes in the alpine
Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

No recent reports of activity on this layer. However, it's still there, and should be regarded as potential for large avalanches.
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of a buried crust/facet layer.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 4