Alpine: LOW (HIGH in PM)
Treeline: LOW (HIGH in PM)
Below Treeline: LOW
Travel Advisory:
Mild temperatures, light rain and high freezing levels have led to a widespread
natural avalanche cycle over the last few days. Yesterday's rain up to 2,300
metres followed by rapid cooling overnight created a strong melt-freeze crust
in the alpine with small isolated pockets of soft slab sitting on this crust.
The forecast of sun and high freezing levels through into the weekend will lead
us into a more typical springtime melt-freeze cycle. Expect firm snow
conditions and low hazard developing into soft snow and rising hazard as this
crust breaks down each afternoon with daytime heating and sun. Take extra
caution around cornices as they will become very weak with daytime warming and
can easily fail with a skier's weight or even on their own.
Avalanche
Activity: Size 1-2.5 loose wet avalanches were observed on all aspects in
the alpine on Monday. The most significant activity occurred on west aspects
during a brief break in the clouds mid-afternoon. Explosive testing Monday
produced up to size two cornice failures.
Snowpack: Up
to 30cm of melt-freeze crust sits above a well settled and very dense snowpack.
This crust will continue to break down each day and reform with nightime
cooling through the weekend. The April 9th rain crust up to 70cm deep and well
bonded to the overlying layers.
Weather: A
ridge is expected to build sometime on Wednesday and last through the weekend
with mainly sunny skies and high daytime freezing levels.
– Blackcomb
Mountain Snow Safety