Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 1st, 2022 4:27PM

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

Tim Haggarty,

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Pacific Systems are set to bring some light precipitation our way through the weekend, and even more into next week...

The potential for a poor freeze, and possibly rain, may lead to a deterioration in the crusts BTL as early as Saturday.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Overcast skies Fri Pm may serve to limit the quality of the freeze. Saturday a cold front and associated convective cloud will bring flurries above about 1800m, possibly rain below. A good freeze can be expected Sun AM before a low pushes through in the afternoon. Again, light rain below about 1800m is possible. Weak freeze Mon AM with more precip.

Snowpack Summary

Isolated thin wind slabs exist in the alpine : mostly noted in the immediate lee of features. Surface melt-freeze crusts exist on all aspects up to approx. 2300m and higher on solar aspects. On high elevation north aspects dry snow exists. The mid-pack is well settled but has several persistent layers consisting of crusts and/or facets.

Avalanche Summary

In the alpine, a few 1.5 thin windslabs were ski cut/triggered in the region on Thursday. A fresh size 3 avalanche was observed on the main highway path on Mt. Stephen on Wednesday. This was likely serac triggered.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Small 10-15 cm thick wind slabs were ski cut/triggered Thursday. Although small in size, these could be enough to send travelers tumbling down a face or couloir. Expect this problem to increase on Monday as new snow accumulates.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

A breakdown of the crusts on steep solar slopes TL and below appears to have occurred Friday as the Sun came out. Watch the recovery carefully each night through the weekend and consider the potential impacts of heating in the form of Sun or rain.

  • Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 2nd, 2022 4:00PM

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