Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Apr 14 – 15, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avalanche danger can change during the course of a day. Avalanche danger will be LOW where there is a hard refrozen surface and may rise, with natural avalanches possible, during periods of warming.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–6
    Large cornices are looming. They are a hazard in themselves and can act as a trigger for avalanches on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Loose wet avalanches are most likely during periods of warming from sunshine or rainfall. These can push you around, entrain mass and become surprisingly large.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–7
    Warm temperatures or rain may continue to weaken the snowpack, leading to full-depth releases. Avoid traveling on or underneath any slopes which sport glide cracks.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Cloud increasing in the morning and light precipitation starting by evening. Light to moderate SW winds. Freezing level around 1300 m.Monday: Light to moderate convective precipitation. Moderate SW winds. Freezing level around 1200 m. Clearing in the evening.Tuesday: Sunshine in the morning, changing to cloud and light precipitation late in the day. Moderate S winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural glide avalanches were reported this week, in the size 2-3.5 range. Wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were also observed in response to warming from rainfall and sunshine.

Snowpack Summary

Glide cracks have opened up and pose the threat of large, full-depth releases, especially on steep rocky terrain features at low elevations. Recently, a lack of overnight freezing at low elevations has left the snowpack weak and isothermal. Once a good freeze occurs, stability should improve dramatically. Large cornices and ice cliffs pose a threat from above. At this time of year, snowpack stability tends to decrease during times of warming (e.g. on slopes receiving sunshine, during rainfall, in the afternoon and at low elevations). We have limited observations from alpine elevations, but it's always possible that storm slabs or wind slabs will develop as storms come and go.

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