Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 1st, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada TH, Avalanche Canada

Email

Clouds with light snowfall should discourage heating through the start of next week with minimal natural avalanche activity expected.

We continue to avoid thin snowpack areas where a large avalanche could be triggered on the basal weakness.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow buries sun crusts to ridgetop and temperature crusts below 1500m.

The March 25 interface is down 5 to15 cm while the March 12 interface is down 15 to 30cm. Both of these are represented by crusts on solar aspects and facets on shaded slopes.

The mid-pack in this area is generally strong, although the base of the snowpack consists of weak facets in thin areas (<2 m).

Weather Summary

Saturday evening a low over the Prairies will maintain cloud and flurries as winds shift to the NW at 30km/h. Snowfall amount: 5-10 through midday Sunday.

By Sunday afternoon the low will drive an upslope push as winds shift NE and diminish. Snowfall amounts will likely favour the eastern slopes and range from 5-15cm through Monday morning.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Continue to pay attention to the weak basal facet layer in areas where the snowpack is shallow (<2 m) such as moraines or wind-scoured areas, or in places where a large trigger like a cornice fall could impact the slope.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Apr 2nd, 2023 4:00PM