As of Wednesday, April 4
Alpine: LOW
Treeline: LOW
Below Treeline: LOW
The avalanche danger will rise with daytime warming on solar aspects.
Travel Advisory: A typical springtime melt-freeze cycle has now set in. North slopes are wind-pressed, but you may still find some winter powder as you drop below the exposed ridges. The new snow we received on Monday arrived with Northerly winds so expect accumulations to be on the South facing slopes. Cornices are the major hazard at this time — plan your travel route so as to avoid crossing under overhanging ridgelines. Be aware of the wide temperature swings through the day in the alpine.
Avalanche Activity: Most of the observed avalanche activity during the past week has been the result of cornices falling. The snowpack is generally stable, but not necessarily to the point of withstanding a large cornice chunk falling from above. Moist sluffing has been occurring on steep solar aspects during the afternoon hours.
Snowpack: North aspects still retain winter-like snow conditions, but a melt-freeze crust has taken hold on solar aspects. There is up to 15 cm of new snow sitting over the crust on solar exposures or the wind-pressed snow on North aspects. The mild temperatures should help the surface snow to settle into the underlying surfaces over the next few days.
Weather: Unsettled and mild temperatures are expected through the weekend as an upper ridge of high pressure will dominate the weather pattern. Cloud and showers or flurries on Thursday are forecast to be followed by some clearing and ridge-top freezing levels on Friday. More cloud is expected on Saturday but temperatures should still be mild.
Daily updates can be found on the Whistler-Blackcomb website at WhistlerBlackcomb.com or through the Canadian Avalanche Association site at Avalanche.ca. For a quick update you can call 604-938-7676.
– Blackcomb Snow Safety
