Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 4th, 2019 8:00AM

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

Parks Canada chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

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Touchy storm slabs now lay on top of a supportive Spring crust. Natural (sun, wind-loading, etc) or human triggering of these new slabs is likely today.

Summary

Weather Forecast

April flurries bring powder skiing back in a hurry. Today will be mainly cloudy with sunny periods, light/moderate SW winds, and freezing levels (FZL) around 1900m. Friday through Sunday will be unsettled with 5-10cm each day, light to moderate SW winds, and FZL at 1900m during the day and dropping to 1600m overnight.

Snowpack Summary

10cm of new snow overnight, accompanied by mod/strong Southerly winds, will have formed thin storm slabs at Tree-line and Alpine elevations. This sits on a strong melt/freeze crust. Below the crust, the snowpack is isothermal in thin snowpack areas BTL. The mid and lower snowpack is strong at Tree-line and above where depths are over 2m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed in the forecast region over the last several days. Last week, numerous glide cracks were opening up and failing at and below treeline on solar aspects. Suspect there was natural avalanche activity overnight on Alpine lee features with the new snow and winds.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
10cm of new snow, accompanied by mod/strong S'ly winds, has created thin storm slabs in Alpine and Tree-line lee features. These slabs sit on a well-established melt-freeze crust and will likely be reactive to human triggering.
Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Storm snow is forming reactive slabs.The storm slab may be more sensitive to human triggering on solar aspects where it sits on a crust

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Surface melt-freeze crusts are capping weak isothermal snow in thin snowpack areas BTL. These crusts are also prevalent at tree-line and above on solar aspects. Crusts have been breaking down by mid afternoon from the heat of the day.
Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 5th, 2019 8:00AM