Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 2nd, 2012 11:27AM

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

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: light snowfall - moderate south winds - freezing level at 700m Wednesday: very light snowfall - light south winds - freezing levels at 1000m Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud as a clearing trend develops - light north winds - freezing level at 1000m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches to report. Expect an an increase in wind slab avalanche activity with forecast weather.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of recently fallen snow overlie a variety of old surfaces. These surfaces include crusts (found on all aspects below 1000m and on solar aspects higher up), and old windslabs. Below this the snowpack is mostly well settled and strong; however, the mid-February surface hoar (buried 80-120cm deep) may still react to large triggers in isolated terrain. Cornices in the area are reported to be very large and potentially unstable. On a side note, surface hoar growth has been noted in recent days and should be something to watch as new snow falls.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Forecast strong winds and new snow will form fresh wind slabs. Watch for triggering in gullies, behind ridge crests and over rolls in terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Cornices

Large cornices exist in alpine terrain. A failure could be destructive by itself, and could also trigger an avalanche on the slope below.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Apr 3rd, 2012 9:00AM