Date issued

Apr 24, 2018 - 8:01 AM

Valid until

Apr 25, 2018 - 8:00 AM

Prepared by

mark herbison

Spring Season Conditions

Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Loose wet avalanches can be expected off of solar aspects as daytime warming and direct sunshine destabilize surface layers. These avalanches may dig deeper as underlying snow is moist.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Plan to finish your tour early.
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Cornices are large and ripe. They will become more prone to failure with daytime warming and solar input.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Avoid travel on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.

Avalanche Problem 3: Wind Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Thin wind slab can be expected on northerly aspects in the alpine.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

Avalanche Summary

Mounds avalanche path released naturally overnight on the April 22 and ran size 3.5, stopping 150m short of the highway. Several other natural loose wet avalanches up to size 3.0 released yesterday.

Cheops North 1 ran size 2.5 on Sunday and it's possible that this slide was human triggered as skiers were in the area.

Start early, finish early!!!

Snowpack Summary

Melt freeze crust on all aspects up to ~2200m and higher on solar aspects. Expect these crusts to break down quickly with warming. Wind slabs in the alpine still persist from this past weekends snow and moderate Southerly winds. Cornices are large and will weaken with the rising temperatures. Dry snow exists on Northerly aspects at high elevations.

Weather Forecast

A temperature inversion overnight has left alpine temps above zero, whereas valley bottom went below zero and got a decent refreeze. Today will be sunny with an alpine high of +5 as the freezing level rises to 3000m. Winds will be 20-35km/hr from the Southwest. Friday will see freezing levels rise to 3700m and will not drop until Sunday night

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox

Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.

What are RSS feeds?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).

Set up an RSS feed for your email:

Select a RSS aggregator

  1. Avalanche Bulletin - Glacier National Park URL: http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/glacier.rss
  2. Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
  3. Fill in your email address.
  4. Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.

Forecast Disclaimer

Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.

**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**

The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.