Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 14th, 2016 8:06AM

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

jim phillips, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Spring skiing is here. Early starts and early finishes are crucial to playing safe! Although supportive in the morning, the upper snowpack is moist and will breakdown quickly with daytime warming.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Partly cloudy and unsettled conditions with a chance of flurries are forecast for today and tomorrow. A strong high pressure ridge will dominate the weather pattern this weekend with sunny skies and warm temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

A 15 cm Knife hard crust formed overnight at Rogers Pass. In high elevation locations this hard crust overlies approximately 60 cm of weak, moist or wet snow over a dense and well consolidated base. At low elevations the snowpack is isothermal and rapidly receding. At Mt. Fidelity the snowpack is at 75% of its normal height.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed through the highway corridor yesterday. One occurrence was noted from Tuesday, a size 2.5 wet slab on the SW face of Cheops Mountain at about 2500 metres,

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

During periods of sun on solar aspects during the heat of the day loose wet avalanches are possible. Minimize your exposure to these slopes. Sometimes loose wet avalanches entrain significant mass and are quite dangerous.

Minimize exposure to steep slopes on warm or sunny days.Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wet Slabs

As the snowpack warms and weakens during the day wet slab avalanche are more likely. Large and destructive wet slab avalanches have been observed recently.

Avoid exposure to overhead slopes with Glide Cracks. Avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Use extra caution on solar slopes, or if the snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 15th, 2016 8:00AM