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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 28th, 2022

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, 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.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

This will be the last forecast for the season, covering conditions through to Thursday when we make the transition to Spring Conditions.

Assess slopes as you travel and expect highly variable snow conditions with elevation, aspect, and time of day. Enjoy the spring skiing!

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Partially cloudy with isolated flurries. Freezing level lowering to 500 m. Light southerly winds.

TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with light isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1200 m in the afternoon. Light southerly winds.

WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with light isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1300 m in the afternoon. Light southwesterly winds.

THURSDAY: Mainly cloudy with light flurries. Freezing level rising to 1400 m in the afternoon. Light northwesterly winds. 

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday and Sunday, numerous wet loose avalanches were observed from steep terrain at treeline and below (size 1-1.5). A few glide slabs released from rocky terrain below treeline (size 2).

In the north of the region over the weekend, a few natural wind slabs were reported in the alpine, failing in lee features directly below ridgelines (size 1-1.5). 

Looking forward to this week, we suspect pockets of wind slabs will exist in lee areas in the alpine. Wet loose avalanches may occur on steep solar aspects during periods of warm temperatures and strong sun. Cornice falls will be most likely when the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of recent snowfall above 2000 m tapers rapidly with elevation. This new snow overlies a heavily wind-affected surface in exposed terrain, the product of an intense wind event early last week. Moist or crusty surfaces exist to at least 1800 m on all aspects, and to mountain top on solar aspects. The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, with no weak layers of concern at this time.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.