Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 11th, 2015–Apr 12th, 2015

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kootenay Boundary.

Spring flurries and wind may combine to build fresh wind slabs in lee features. Also, loose wet slides are possible whenever the sun pokes out.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of flurries. The freezing level is around 1500-1700 m and ridge winds are moderate from the West. Monday: Cloudy with light snow or showers (~5 cm). The freezing level bumps up to 2000 m. Winds are moderate gusting strong from the S-SW. Tuesday: Showers or flurries ending early then cloudy with sunny breaks. The freezing level lowers to 1600 m and wind shift to northwesterly.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 have been reported in this region recently. Observations are becoming more limited as we enter into spring. If you're out in the mountains, please consider posting your observations to our webpage using the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Melt-freeze surface conditions exist on sun-exposed slopes. On shaded slopes, 10-20cm of recent snow overlies a thick supportive melt-freeze crust. At higher elevations these accumulations may have been blown around by variable winds and thin wind slabs may exist on a variety of aspects. The mid-March crust/facet complex is buried around 50cm below the surface. This layer is generally considered dormant, although it could be reactivated in isolated terrain by prolonged warm temperatures. The mid and lower snowpack are strong and well settled.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow may get blown into fresh wind slabs on the immediate lee of ridge lines and other terrain breaks.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3