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