Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 10th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
cgarritty,
Avalanche Canada
Seeking north-facing dry snow at higher elevations will place you in the same terrain as the primary avalanche problem, so use low consequence slopes to gain information before exposing yourself. Remember that new snow seeing its first sun exposure will likely shed naturally.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Saturday night: Clearing. Moderate northwest winds easing to light by morning.
Sunday: Sunny. Light northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1500 metres.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -4 with freezing levels to 1700 metres.Â
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast winds, increasing a bit overnight. Alpine high temperatures around -4 with freezing levels to 1700 metres.Â
Avalanche Summary
Small natural dry loose releases were noted on southeast aspects in the Kootenay Pass area on Saturday.
Reports from the same area on Thursday describe periods of intense solar warming triggering several natural point releases entraining our recent storm snow up to size 1.5.
A similar pattern should be expected through Sunday as recent light accumulations are once again triggered by their first exposure to solar input. New wind slabs may also be reactive to triggers in immediately leeward terrain features, with some potential to step down to a 30 cm-deep crust layer.
Snowpack Summary
5-10 cm of new snow through Friday night accumulated over a new melt-freeze crust on solar aspects and otherwise added to a rapidly settling 5-20 cm of snow from Wednesday's storm. This previous storm snow formed wind slabs on north through east aspects, overlying yet another crust on all aspects below 2000 metres. Wind affected new and recent accumulations may have instead added to settled dry snow in terrain above this elevation.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Small new wind slabs in the immediate lee of ridgetop may react to human triggers on Sunday. Up to 30 cm of dry storm snow has now accumulated on a crust in similar terrain, so the possibility exists for slabs to fracture deeper than expected.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Light accumulations of new snow could lose cohesion and become unstable with solar warming during the day. Avoid exposing yourself to terrain where a small wet loose release could have big consequences.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 11th, 2021 4:00PM
