Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 21st, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices and Loose Wet.
JSmith,
Avalanche Canada
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on lee features in the alpine.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Weather Forecast
Thursday night: Mostly cloudy / Light south wind / Low of -4 / Freezing level 1000 m.
Friday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light west wind / High of 3 / Freezing level 1700 m.
Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / High of 4 / Freezing level 1800 m.
Sunday: Cloudy / Moderate southeast wind / High of 10 / Freezing level 1700 m.
Avalanche Summary
A skier triggered size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a northwest aspect in the alpine on Wednesday.
Skier and snowmobiler triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on Tuesday. North and easterly aspects that had been loaded by the wind at treeline and above were the most reactive. See MINs Here and Here.
We currently have very limited avalanche observation data from this region.
Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Photos of current conditions and avalanches are the most helpful.Â
Snowpack Summary
5-10 cm of new snow adds to the 35-55 cm of recent snow. Moderate southerly winds have formed wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers on lee features at treeline and above.
The recent snow is sitting on a variety of hard snow surfaces, including crusts and wind scoured snow.Â
Below this, there are several crusts in the upper snowpack that may have the potential to produce large avalanches during the next significant warming event.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate southerly winds have formed wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers on lee features in the alpine.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices may be weak and reactive to human triggers. They create a significant falling hazard, and may produce large slab avalanches as they fall onto the slope below.
Cornice failures are more likely during hot and sunny weather.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Small wet loose avalanches should be expected on steep, solar aspects when the sun comes out.
Avoid big, steep, alpine slopes that are getting cooked by the sun.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 22nd, 2022 4:00PM
