Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 16th, 2014 8:00AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

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Summary

Weather Forecast

Unsettled conditions will bring light precipitation to the region today. Freezing levels should rise to 1400-1600m in the afternoon, and winds will be light to moderate westerlies. Thursday will see a more organized system come through, bringing moderate precipitation.

Snowpack Summary

A moderate freeze overnight will have tightened up the upper crusts. A dusting of new snow has softened the crust, but it should remain supportive for the morning, unless we see significant sunshine. The snowpack on solar aspects is warming to near isothermal levels, but it stills awaits a dramatic warming to lose its structural integrity.

Avalanche Summary

No new activity was observed yesterday in the highway corridor, nor in the Fidelity backcountry.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

Some crust recovery occurred last night, but it has since softened with the light snowfall this morning. If temperatures rise or if we see more sunshine than more than forecasted, danger levels at tree-line and below will rise.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Large triggers, like cornices, and a rapid warming will be what it takes to activate the persistent weak layers that are buried deeper in the snowpack. At the moment, they are low probability/high consequence avalanche problems.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Apr 17th, 2014 8:00AM