Bulletin d’avalanche

Northwest Inland

Apr 17 – 18, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Archivé · expiré 11 years ago

Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Mon
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Points saillants

Cloud cover, warm alpine temperatures, localized solar radiation, and rain will deteriorate the snowpack. Use a conservative approach to terrain and watch for signs of instabilities.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible - Likely
    Taille
    1–3
    Strong winds have redistributed recent storm snow into wind slabs on leeward slopes. They are especially touchy where they sit on buried facets, surface hoar and/ or crusts. Cornices are large and may weaken with solar radiation.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Unlikely - Possible
    Taille
    3–5
    Additional snow loading on the mid- March persistent weak layer could bring it back to life. Smaller slab avalanches may step down to this layer, initiating large and destructive avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely - Very Likely
    Taille
    1–3
    Solar radiation and warmer temperatures will deteriorate the snowpack quickly. Travel on sunny slopes early, and watch for signs of instabilities like avalanches, moist surface snow and snowballing.

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Most of the North Coast regions will see unsettled conditions through the weekend. A dominating ridge of high pressure over southern BC will push North by late Sunday keeping a well-organized storm offshore. Saturday will see mostly cloudy skies and ridgetop winds light from the SW. Alpine temperatures will rise to 0 degrees and freezing levels will be near 1500 m. On Sunday, light precipitation and moderate SW winds is expected. Alpine temperatures near 5 degrees and freezing levels rising to 2400 m. Influence from the upper level ridge will see freezing levels rise to 2400 m through Monday and rain up to 10 mm. By late Monday, the ridge starts to break down allowing a more seasonally westerly flow.

Avalanche Summary

Slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported in the Mt. Leach area on mostly north facing slopes. On Saturday, touchy wind slabs and storm slabs are likely, especially in areas that receive higher snowfall amounts. If the sun pokes out, solar radiation will be strong and deteriorate the upper snowpack. Watch overhead hazards like cornices, solar triggered loose and slab avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has likely formed touchy storm slabs. Strong westerly winds have redistributed this new snow and has formed wind slabs on leeward slopes and behind terrain features. Solar aspects may have a sun crust from recent localized solar radiation. The lack of bond between the new wind slabs and storm slabs over the older snow surfaces buried on April 9 th (surface hoar, crusts and facets) are the primary concern. The March 25th surface hoar / crust layer is reportedly unreactive, however; it should remain on your radar as it may re-awaken with the new load of snow, wind and effects from warming. Large ripe cornices are also of concern and will be a problem with additional loading, especially when the sun and warm temperatures come back.

Régions couvertes