Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Apr 7 – 8, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Large cornices exist in alpine terrain and they may pop off with warmer temperatures and intense solar radiation. A failure could be destructive by itself, and could also trigger an avalanche on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Loose wet avalanches are likely on sun exposed slopes during the day.

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

This region should remain dry from Sunday through Tuesday. Freezing levels will be around 1500 m, with an overnight freeze expected on Sunday night with clear skies, but not on Monday night, as clouds roll in on Monday afternoon, which will prevent the heat escaping. Winds are expected to be moderate southeasterly for Sunday and Monday, veering southerly on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Point releases, especially on south facing terrain have been reported from the last few days up to size two. Note, we are currently receiving very little information about this region.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate winds have blown light amounts of new snow into variable wind slabs in exposed lee and cross-loaded terrain, which are starting to bond. Surface snow on sun-exposed slopes is undergoing a daily melt-freeze cycle. In sheltered areas 15-30cm of recent new snow sits on previous surfaces that include crusts (found on all aspects below 1000m and on solar aspects higher up), and old wind slabs. Daytime warming and sun-exposure will cause surface snow to lose cohesion and cornices to weaken. Wet slabs also become a possibility during periods of prolonged warming, especially if there is minimal amounts of overnight freeze.

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