Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 18th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada MM, Avalanche Canada

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Expect a variety of conditions between different elevation bands & keep your head on a swivel while moving through wind-effected terrain.

Recent snow may slide easily on the crust and may gain enough mass to push you off your intended line.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches were observed in the hwy corridor on Thursday.

A field team on Wednesday observed a natural size 2 wind slab avalanche which started at ridge top and ran on north facing terrain. Explosive control on Wed produced a size 1.5 wind-slab from a tree-line slide path.

Over the weekend there was a natural avalanche cycle triggered by strong sun and high freezing levels. All observed avalanches were loose/wet and no bigger than size 2.5.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of snow covers a crust that exists everywhere but high north. Recent winds have blown the new snow into wind slabs in immediate lee features.

The upper snowpack consists of a series of laminated crusts from the recent spring like conditions. The Feb 3rd crust is the dominant mid-pack layer down ~110cms and still produces isolated planer results when tested.

Below tree-line, the snowpack has gone through a number of melt freeze cycles and is in spring conditions.

Weather Summary

High pressure continues until Saturday where the ridge breaks up and light precip & unsettled conditions set in.

Tonight: Clear, Low of -10°C. Nil precip, freezing level at valley bottom.

Fri: Sunny, Alp high -3°C, light northeast winds, FZL 1800m.

Sat: Sunny with cloudy periods, Nil precip, high 3°C FZL 2300m

Sun: Flurries, 12cm, high 0°C. Moderate to Strong West winds, FZL 2000m

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Moderate, gusty winds and recent snow created fresh wind-slabs. Expect to find this problem most reactive in the lee sides of ridges or cross loaded terrain features in the alpine. Once triggered these avalanches have the potential to run far on the buried crust beneath.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 19th, 2024 4:00PM

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