Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 4th, 2018 4:33PM

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

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

The primary avalanche concerns are wind slabs in exposed terrain and cornices along ridgelines.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: 2-4 cm new snow. Freezing level around 600 m. Moderate easterly winds.Friday: Flurries. Freezing level around 600 m. Light southeasterly winds.Saturday: Around 5 cm new snow. Freezing level around 700 m. Light easterly winds.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, small avalanches were observed in the Alexander Creek area. On Monday, small natural avalanches were reported from the region, and ski cutting produced similar small avalanches on wind-loaded features. Also on Monday, explosives triggered one size 2 wind slab avalanche on an east aspect at 2300 m. This avalanche ran on a 60 cm deep crust layer.

Snowpack Summary

10-30 cm of snow sits above a variety of crusts on all but high north aspects. Northern parts of the region have less new snow than southern parts. Wind has formed hard slabs in lee features, and in some cases the snow may be poorly bonded to the crusts.Multiple crusts exist in the top metre of the snowpack. Some parts of the region may have a surface hoar layer roughly 60 cm deep on north aspects at treeline.A well settled midpack sits above sugary facets in many parts of the region, especially thin snowpack areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Shifting winds have formed slabs in lee terrain on a variety of aspects.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices that could possibly trigger slabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

Cornices are reported to be large and there have been recent observations of cornice releases.

Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Apr 5th, 2018 2:00PM