Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2019–Apr 19th, 2019

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Expect to find rapidly changing conditions with elevation, particularly as you transition through the rain-snow line. Travel conservatively to avoid wind slabs and loose wet avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with rain switching to snow, accumulation 10 to 20 mm rain followed by 5 to 15 cm of snow, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 2400 m dropping to 1600 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries and afternoon clearing, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1700 m.

SATURDAY: Clear skies, light north wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 2000 m.

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few small natural avalanches were observed on Wednesday. Avalanche activity should be elevated Thursday into Friday as the storm pummels the Coast Mountains.

Snowpack Summary

Around 20 to 30 cm of snow likely accumulated above 2000 to 2400 m on Thursday into Thursday night. The snow fell with strong southwest wind, forming new slabs in the alpine. A freezing level decrease Friday night should drop another 5 to 10 cm of snow down to 1500 m by Friday morning. Below the rain-snow line, the snowpack is saturated and rapidly melting.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.