Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 17th, 2016 4:00PM

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 and Cornices.

Avalanche Canada tim haggarty, Avalanche Canada

A warm and sunny day Sunday with temperatures expected to climb through the night producing NO FREEZE Monday morning. Poor travel and likely an avalanche cycle can be expected as freezing levels reach 3800m Monday and stay there through Tuesday.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak freeze occurred Sunday morning with calm winds and clear skies allowing strong solar effect combined with freezing levels that are expected to rise steadily into Sunday night. With NO FREEZE forecast Monday or Tuesday expect the heating effects to compound each day as freezing levels reach 3800m.

Snowpack Summary

We are into a spring cycle for most of the Little Yoho area except in high north facing alpine. Occasional pockets of deep instability may still be encountered and triggered from shallow locations during warm periods of the day. 5cm of recent snow sits on crusts found everywhere but above 2600m on North aspects became moist today with solar heating

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet activity to sz 2 on steep solar slopes with the surface snow failing over the melt-freeze crusts has been seen over the last two days with patchy skies. At the time of writing today (14:00) not much new has been seen however crusts are certainly breaking down and activity is expected.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

All avalanche terrain should be avoided later in the day when the crust on top of the snowpack breaks down due to daytime heating. A weak freeze and good heating Sunday started the crust breakdown and NO FREEZE is expected Monday or Tuesday.

  • 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

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices

Watch for cornices to become active through Tuesday as the freezing levels reach their highest point yet this spring.

  • Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 18th, 2016 4:00PM