Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 19th, 2019 4:47PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

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New snow is expected to accumulate as rain transitions to snowfall over Friday night. As flurries persist, danger from new wind slabs will increase. Be sure to post your observations to the Mountain Information Network!

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Cloudy with scattered showers transitioning to alpine flurries as freezing levels descend from 2700 to 1800 metres. Light to moderate southwest winds easing and shifting to northeast.

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated alpine flurries. New snow totals of 5-10 cm. Light rain below about 1700 metres. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels to 1900 metres.

Sunday: Mainly sunny. Light variable winds. Alpine high temperatures around +3 with freezing levels to 2500 metres, remaining elevated overnight.

Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around +5 with freezing levels to 2700 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Friday's rain is expected to create moist snow conditions on all aspects and elevations. By Saturday morning, cooling temperatures may allow for a trace to 5 cm of new snow to accumulate in the alpine before precipitation ends. The above mentioned rain is saturating approximately 30 cm of dense snow from the past weekend's storm. In most areas, this storm snow sits above a widespread supportive crust.

North facing alpine terrain may see more pronounced loose wet activity as rain saturates previous storm snow that until recently remained cold and dry. High elevation north facing terrain also harbours a deeply buried layer of facets. Although unlikely, human triggering of persistent slabs on this layer may still be possible in rocky alpine terrain with shallow or variable snowpack depth.

Below treeline the snowpack has melted or is isothermal.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Thin new wind slabs may form over Friday night and Saturday as rain transitions to snowfall at higher elevations. Any slabs that form should be ripe for human triggering.

  • Use caution in lee areas where wind loading may create fresh wind slabs.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
  • Shifting wind direction could make it tricky to pinpoint the aspect where new slabs have formed.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Apr 20th, 2019 2:00PM