Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 6th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
TH,
Avalanche Canada
Sunday looks to be a bit cooler than Saturday although there is some potential for the sun to poke out and freezing levels will still approach 2000m.
Moderate winds overnight Saturday may redistribute some of the dry snow still found on shaded aspects: watch for new slab development.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported Saturday.
The sun initiated a round of loose wet avalanches Friday to sz 1.5 out of steep solar terrain. Skiers and the control teams at the ski hills reported loose dry sluffing in steep terrain and dealt with small soft slabs near ridge tops.
It has now been one week since the last skier triggered avalanches on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer: a remote in Purple Bowl and a fatal event at the Cathedral Glades.
Snowpack Summary
15-25 cm of snow sits on the early April crust. New surface crusts to 2000m and ridgetop on solar slopes.
The February 3 persistent weak layer remains a concern for human triggering in shallow snowpack areas on northerly alpine aspects where no crusts are found in the upper snowpack and the midpack remains thin and weak.
Weather Summary
Sat overnight: Freezing level returns to valley bottom with a few flurries. Winds shift NW and increase to the moderate range.
Sun: Mainly cloudy. Winds diminish and shift SW midday before increasing back to moderate overnight and then strong into Monday. Freezing level rises to near 2000m before returning to valley bottom overnight.
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Terrain and Travel Advice
- Remember that in the spring strong solar radiation and warm temperatures can weaken the snow in a matter of minutes.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
Problems
Wind Slabs
The recent 15-25 cm has been distributed into some deeper and denser pockets by light variable winds. Winds are forecast to increase overnight into Sunday so further slab development is likely.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Feb 3 layer is down 65-120 cm. In shallow snowpack areas on northerly alpine aspects, this layer remains sensitive to skiers, with remote triggering observed in several instances. All the recent avalanches that initiated on this layer stepped down to the basal facets/ground.
Aspects: North, North East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Moist snow can be expected daily at the lowest elevations as freezing levels swing. Some solar inputs look possible for Sunday. Remember that even a short burst of sun can develop moist snow very quickly on steep slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 7th, 2024 4:00PM
