Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 19th, 2019 8:00AM

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

Parks Canada chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

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Heavy rains overnight have destabilized the snowpack. A widespread avalanche cycle is underway. Avoid all avalanche terrain until the weather cools off!

Summary

Weather Forecast

A further 20mm of rain will fall today to 2200m before freezing levels (FZL) drop below 2000m by the evening. Winds will remain moderate to strong from the SW. Saturday will be a mix of sun and cloud, with light NW winds and FZL around 2000m. Sunday should be sunny with FZL rising to 2400m and light winds.

Snowpack Summary

Overnight, 25mm of rain to ridge-top has saturated the upper snowpack. There has been no crust recovery at tree-line and below. The isothermal snowpack will be failing to ground below tree-line today.

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle to size 3 off of Macdonald and Tupper is currently underway. Numerous paths have run to the bottom of their fans and have dug right down to ground.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Over 20mm of rain has saturated the upper snowpack to ridge-top. Wet avalanches are currently running from all elevations and aspects.

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
  • Avoid all avalanche terrain!

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely - Certain

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

45cm + of storm snow, along with moderate to strong S-SW winds, formed storm slabs in the alpine and exposed areas of tree-line. These slabs were easily triggered by skiers on Sunday, initiating from 50m away.

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 20th, 2019 8:00AM