Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 8th, 2021 8:01AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Cornices.
Jonas Hoke,
Good skiing can be found on sheltered North aspets up high. Watch for pockets of windslab, and expect South aspects to come alive a little this afternoon with daytime warming and solar radiation.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Flurries and unsettled conditions for the next few days.
Today: Flurries (3-5cm), clearing in the afternoon, Alpine high -7 C, Freezing level (Fzl) 1500m, ridge wind moderate W.
Friday: Flurries (10cm). Low -11 C, High -8 C. Fzl 1100m. Ridge winds strong SW.
Saturday: Isolated flurries. Low -12 C, High -9 C. Fzl valley bottom. Moderate W wind.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10cm of new snow is being blown into fresh windslabs and covering a variety of old surfaces: settled powder on sheltered alpine N aspects, windslabs/ wind pressed surfaces in exposed areas, a suncrust on solar aspects, and spring melt/freeze crust below treeline. Cornices, as always at this time of year, are large and fragile.
Avalanche Summary
A couple of size 2-3.5 windslabs were observed in the N gullies of Macdonald yesterday. A couple of size 2-3 glide slabs also released from the south slopes of Cheops and Tupper.
Numerous cornice releases, triggering windslab below them, were reported Tuesday up to size 2.5. Including this close call on the Jupiter Traverse.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Ongoing Southerly winds continue to load snow into Northerly aspects. Expect windslabs to be particularly reactive where they have crossloaded over previous surface crusts.
- Use caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Watch for the new snow to become increasingly reactive in the afternoon if/when the sun comes out.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are are large at this time of year and they've been starting to fail under their weight. Give cornices a very wide berth along ridgecrests, as they can suck back a long way!!
- Stay well back from the leeward side of corniced ridgecrests.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 9th, 2021 8:00AM
