Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 6th, 2015 9:13AM

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

bcorrigan, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

The hazard may go higher than forecast in the afternoon with solar heating. Cornice failure is a real concern with these spring conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Cloudy tonight with the possibility of a few snow showers as the last of a Pacific frontal system tracks east and south of the region. Sunny with cloudy periods for the remainder of the forecast period. Winds light and variable for the next few days, with the freezing level rising to 2000m by Thursday afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

Moist loose avalanches reported on solar aspects below 1900m. No other reports from the area. Cornices are now becoming a concern as the Spring temperatures progress.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm of low density storm snow is sitting on a strong and supportive rain crust that was buried last Saturday and extends as high as 2100m. West through southwesterly winds have shifted these new accumulations into wind slabs in lee terrain, especially high NE aspects. A facet/crust layer that was buried in mid-March is now approximately 50-100 cm down. It was found down 55 cm near the Duffey Lake Road, and produced moderate sudden results. This remains a serious concern in the region because of it's potential for very large avalanches. Cornices are now large and mature and may collapse with warming and spring-like temperatures. Moist snow has been reported on all aspects up to 1800m

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may be found on north and east lee slopes at upper elevations.

The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

No recent activity has been reported on this slab/over weak layer, but it's still there and could be triggered by a wet loose avalanche or a wind slab avalanche

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Apr 7th, 2015 2:00PM