Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 6th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada llarson, Avalanche Canada

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New snow and afternoon clear skies may initiate wet, loose avalanches from steep solar-facing slopes. Avoid steep, sunny slopes during periods of intense solar radiation.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday numerous size 1 wet loose avalanches occurred on steep solar slopes.

Data is limited in this region. Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 20 to 25 cm of accumulated snow covers a widespread melt-freeze crust that can be found on all aspects and elevations. On solar-facing slopes, the melt-freeze crust is robust and supportive. A second crust in the upper snowpack is now down 20 to 40 cm, depending on aspect and elevation.

A persistent weak layer of facets sits on top of a second buried crust down 100 to 180 cm. This layer is unlikely to be human-triggered in areas where a thick crust above the weak layer is present.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 to 10 cm. 20 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, clearing in the afternoon, 2 to 4 cm. 15 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2° C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries 2 to 4cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeleine temperature -2° C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Clearing in the afternoon and rising freezing levels may initiate wet loose avalanches on steep solar facing slopes.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

20 to 25 cm of accumulated snow and variable winds may have formed a wind slab over a supportive melt-freeze crust. Triggering these wind slabs is most likely in direct lee of ridges and high points in open terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Apr 7th, 2024 4:00PM