Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 21st, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Cornices and Persistent Slabs.
snow safety,
Avalanche Canada
We switched to "Spring Conditions" and will no longer issue danger ratings. The snowpack is so variable through the day. The key this time of year is to start early (first light) and be done by noon.
Summary
Weather Forecast
For Saturday AM expect a good overnight freeze with rising freezing levels to 2400-2500m by the afternoon. This will be accompanied by light winds and a mix of sun and cloud.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is a real mixed bag right now: totally dependent on aspect and elevation. At treeline and above, melt freeze crusts exist to ridge top on solar aspects, while on north aspects, dry surface snow still exists above ~2200m. Below treeline the snowpack becomes wet through the day. The snowpack is slowly changing to a spring snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
Afternoon warming will create loose wet problems at low elevations and on S and W facing terrain at higher elevations.
- Pay attention to sluffing off cliffs and steep solar terrain, signs of a warming snowpack.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices continue to fail. Minimize your time underneath these and remember that a cornice failure could also trigger the deep persistent slab on the basal facets.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The snowpack is gaining strength, however the facets deeper in the snowpack remain a concern in thin alpine areas and where a cornice could trigger the slope.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 22nd, 2017 4:00PM
