Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 10th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.
bchristie,
Avalanche Canada
Observe your local conditions, and let that guide your terrain choice. Forecasted snow and rainfall amounts are uncertain.
As the freezing level falls, you will find that conditions change drastically with elevation and through the day.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. It is likely that a widespread avalanche cycle occurred during the warm and wet storm. Natural and human triggered avalanches will remain likely on Tuesday.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm of recent snow in the alpine covers settling, dry snow on shaded (northerly) aspects, and a frozen crust on solar aspects. At treeline, this recent snow is likely to be denser, shallower, and moist or refrozen.
Below treeline, rain soaked surfaces are starting to freeze or get snowed on as temperatures drop, and a lot more dirt is showing at low elevations.
The mid snowpack is generally settled and strong, except in areas with snow depths less than 150 cm. In these lower snow areas, the mid-pack is likely weaker and more faceted.
The lower snowpack includes a layer of large, weak facets and/or depth hoar crystals.
Weather Summary
Snow/Rain amounts for the ongoing storm are uncertain. Weather models are not agreeing on how widespread or intense the precipitation will be, and exact freezing levels will be hard to forecast as they drop. Prepare to continually evaluate the conditions, and change plans as necessary.
Monday Night
Cloudy. Moderate to heavy rain/snow expected. Snow/rain line somewhere between 1500 and 2000 m. 10-20 cm of snow, 20-30 mm of rain. Possible isolated areas of 50mm or more. Treeline temperature around 0°C. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to strong at higher elevations.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 5-10 cm of snow expected. The snow/rain line drops to 1000 m. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to strong at higher elevations.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Treeline temperature around -5°C. Light variable ridgetop wind.
Thursday
Partly cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Treeline temperature around -3°C. Light variable ridgetop wind.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day.
- Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm totals are expected to reach 20-50 cm in the alpine by the end of the day on Tuesday. As freezing levels fall, it will start to snow at lower elevations.
Strong southwest winds at high elevations could be building deeper, more reactive pockets of slab in leeward terrain.
Storm slabs in motion may step-down to deeper layers in the snowpack that may have been weakened by rising temperatures and/or rain.
Use extra caution around ridgecrests, rolls, and on convex slopes. Retreat to mellower terrain if you find signs of instability like shooting cracks, whumpfs, or recent avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Freezing levels are falling, but below treeline, the upper snowpack could remain wet and unstable.
If you see signs of loose wet instability, like snow that feels like a slurpy, or clumps up and pinwheels down a slope, the move to mellower terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The base of the snowpack remains weak. Avoid thin, rocky start zones and shallow areas with variable snowpack depths.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 11th, 2023 4:00PM
