Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 29th, 2019 4:00PM

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.

Parks Canada lisa paulson, Parks Canada

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Cooler temps and flurries for the next few days should keep the loose wet problem at bay, but pay attention if the sun does appear as it wouldn't take much to trigger loose wet avalanches involving the new snow.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Expect convective afternoon flurries for the next couple of days. Temperatures will stay cool with a northerly component to the wind. This kind of weather pattern can result in some locally deep accumulations, so pay close attention to where you travel.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of snow fell over the weekend at higher elevations. Strong winds during the storm did some loading, but the storm ended calm and cold. While the new snow should settle rapidly, be suspicious of its bond to the old snow and of the facets interfaces below. Supportive crusts exist below this new snow on solar aspects & at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed or reported in the past 2 days.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Up to 40 cm from the weekends storm coupled with strong to moderate wind has formed a slab over a variety of old wind slabs, crusts and facets in the alpine. The likelihood of avalanches is on the way down, but will persist for a few more days.

  • The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

We have seen some evidence of lingering deeper instabilities in the alpine from various crust and facets layers in April. These have been triggered by cornice falls and wind slabs. Keep checking for these weaknesses in steep alpine features.

  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 30th, 2019 4:00PM

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