Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 10th, 2016 4:21PM

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

Avalanche Canada Conrad Janzen, Avalanche Canada

A good freeze is expected Sunday night before another hot day on Monday. Travel conditions should be good early in the day but plan to start early and be down early. Enjoy the spring skiing conditions!

Summary

Weather Forecast

Sunday night should see a reasonable overnight freeze but expect another warm day on Monday with freezing levels around 2400m. Light to moderate West winds may help keep the alpine snowpack a little cooler. Continued warm temperatures, moderate West winds and the possibility of a few light flurries for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

We are into a spring cycle for most of the Little Yoho area except in the high alpine. Dry snow exists only in high North facing terrain. Occasional pockets of deep instability may still be encountered and triggered from shallow locations during warm periods of the day.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observed or reported on Sunday due to a good overnight freeze. Some snowballing at lower elevations.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Any steep slopes should be avoided later in the day when the crust on top of the snowpack breaks down due to daytime heating. We expect this to occur mostly at lower elevations and on sun exposed alpine slopes on Monday. Start early and finish early!

  • Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.
  • Travel early on frozen crusts before the heat of the day.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

There are several buried sun crusts exist in the upper snowpack and it remains possible to trigger these layers once the surface crusts break down during any prolonged heating from the sun.

  • Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices

Cornices are large. Give them a wide berth on ridge crests, as they can pull back a long way when they fail and may trigger an avalanche below. If you need to travel under cornices, move quickly but think twice if there is significant heating.

  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 11th, 2016 4:00PM