Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 17th, 2017 3:05PM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

Forecast new snow may release as loose wet avalanches during the warmest part of the day. Some thin wind slabs may also develop in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Overnight: 2-3 cm of new snow with light easterly winds and freezing down to 400 metres. Tuesday: 5-10 cm of new snow with moderate to strong southwest winds and daytime freezing up to 900 metres. Wednesday: 5-8 cm of new snow with moderate to strong south winds and daytime freezing up to 1400 metres. Thursday: Becoming clear by late morning with light winds and daytime freezing up to 1600 metres.

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity in the south of the region. That being said there is little to no information being passed on from the region recently. Exposure to large overhanging cornices remains a significant concern. Forecast new snow may release as loose wet avalanches from steep terrain during exposure to the sun or from daytime warming.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been transported by the wind, and high alpine terrain may be stripped down to ice or old hard surfaces. Wind deposited snow may be sitting on a variety of old surfaces including hard wind crusts in exposed terrain and sun crusts on solar aspects. At the tree line elevation, warming and refreezing earlier in the week has created melt freeze crusts. Below tree line the surface snow is likely a mix of crusts at the upper end of the elevation band to moist or wet snow throughout the entire thickness of the snowpack at the lower portions of the elevation band.

Problems

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
The likelihood of cornices triggering increases with intense sunshine and/or during the warmest parts of the day.
Even small cornice falls may trigger larger avalanches.Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on ridges.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches are likely at lower elevations where the snowpack may be isothermal. At higher elevations the loose wet problem is driven by exposure to sun and daytime warming.
Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 18th, 2017 2:00PM