Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 3rd, 2012 10:46AM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

South Columbia.

Summary

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY: Light to locally moderate amounts of precipitation. Moderate northerly winds with a freezing level of 1000-1200m. THURSDAY & FRIDAY: Broken skies with light flurries and light winds. Freezing levels remain steady at 1000-1200m.

Avalanche Summary

A recent report from the northeast part of the region is of a remotely triggered size 3 avalanche from 50m away on a south southeast aspect. The crown was 30-100cm, 200m wide and ran for 250m in length. Very touchy conditions were reported from the far south of the region in the Valkyr Range at the end of the weekend; A natural avalanche with a 2 km wide crown was reported on an east facing aspect which started in the storm snow and then stepped down to the March 27th crust/facet combo.

Snowpack Summary

The most recent storm produced 40 - 100 cm of total snowfall, with the far south of the region receiving the greater accumulations. 80-100cm of storm snow from the past 7 days is sitting on a weak layer of Facets sitting on a crust. This layer seems to be most reactive on sun exposed slopes. Slopes below 1000 m continue to experience little or no overnight refreeze (recovery). The deeper early february surface hoar layers seem to have been unreactive in the short term but still remain a concern.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent new snow combined with moderate winds created new and further buried old winslabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Cornices

Large cornices keep getting bigger and more sensitive with continued wind, snow and warm temperatures. Cornices impacting slopes below could be considered enough of a load to trigger some of the deeper buried weaknesses.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

3 - 7

Loose Wet

Short periods of sun can ben enough to trigger avalanches on sun exposed slopes.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Apr 4th, 2012 9:00AM