Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 11th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada shorton, Avalanche Canada

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Strong wind from the north could cause heightened avalanche danger on freshly wind-loaded slopes.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries bringing trace amounts of snow, 40-60 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures drop to -18 C.

TUESDAY: Scattered cloud cover, no significant precipitation, strong 40-60 km/h outflow winds from the northeast continue, treeline temperatures around -13 C.

WEDNESDAY: Clear skies, no precipitation, 30 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures reach -10 C.

THURSDAY: Clear skies, no precipitation, 20-30 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures reach -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

A few large cornice failures were observed on Sunday, but these did not trigger slabs on the slopes below. Reports from Monday suggest that despite the strong northerly winds, there was not significant wind loading in avalanche terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Strong northerly wind has affected most surfaces and left small wind slabs along ridgetops. Sun crusts are found up to 1200 m on south and west facing slopes, while surfaces on other aspects are dry. The snowpack is strong with no weak layers of concern at this time.

Cornices are very large and exposure to them should be minimized, especially during warm or windy weather.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Strong wind from the north has likely formed some small wind slabs near ridgetops on south-facing slopes.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Apr 12th, 2022 4:00PM