Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada trettie, Avalanche Canada

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Avoid avalanche terrain. New snow and wind will likely result in a natural avalanche cycle.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Friday natural wet loose and storm slab activity was observed up to size two. Check out this MIN for some good details.

We suspect that larger and more reactive storm slabs will be found on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

On Sunday another 20 to 40 cm of storm snow will bring recent totals to around 60 cm. This storm snow will be accompanied by strong to extreme southerly winds stripping windward slopes and forming wind slabs on lee and cross loaded features. At lower elevations precipitation will fall on an already moist snowpack.

A crust can be found below recent storm snow on solar aspects and all aspects treeline and below.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Stormy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow expected. Strong to extreme southerly winds and freezing levels falling to 1500 m.

Sunday

Stormy with up to 40 cm of new snow expected. Strong to extreme southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1700 m with the snowline around 1000 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing up to 10 cm of new snow. Moderate southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 15 cm of new snow possible. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

New snow and wind will form reactive storm slabs with the largest being found on west through east aspects due to strong to extreme southerly winds. Strong winds mean that slabs may be found further down slope than expected.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

At lower elevations, where precipitation is more likely to fall as rain, wet loose avalanches are likely. Avoid steep terrain where even small avalanches can have serious consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 9th, 2023 4:00PM