Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 19th, 2012 8:06AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet, Wet Slabs and Wind Slabs.

sylvia forest, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Today will be mostly clear and sunny. Watch for rapid weakening in the snowpack as things warm up. This afternoon, another low pressure will arrive, with 10cm of snow forecasted tonight. This may bump hazard to considerable in the alpine tomorrow.

Summary

Problems

Loose Wet

This is the first really sunny day for a while. Expect surface sluffing of moist snow, especially on sunny aspects as the day warms up. Snow in shallow rocky areas can warm up even more. Small sluffs can gain mass and speed rapidly.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wet Slabs

The upper snowpack is now moist and isothermal to 2000m with a series of crusts in the top 90 cm. The crusts provide potential failure plains and good bed surfaces for avalanches. Recent large avalanches have been failing to the ground.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Moderate southerly winds in have created windslabs behind terrain features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 20th, 2012 8:00AM