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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2022–Apr 18th, 2022

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

Regions

North Columbia.

Avalanche activity is unlikely given the current cool and cloudy weather. 

Continue to be mindful of your exposure to cornices when travelling on and below ridgelines. 

Confidence

High - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloud cover. Treeline temperatures dropping to -5 C. 20-30 km/h wind from the southeast. 

MONDAY: High cloud in the morning, increasing throughout the day. Light flurries in the afternoon above 1400 m, rain below. 25-35 km/h wind from the southeast.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with precipitation, 5-15 cm of new snow accumulation above 1300 m, rain below. Treeline temperatures rising to -2 C. 30-50 km/h wind from the west.

WEDNESDAY: Partially cloudy. Treeline temperatures rising to 0 C. Light wind from the south. 

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity the last week has primarily been large cornice failures on north and east-facing slopes. For the most part, these have not triggered avalanches on the slopes below.

Snowpack Summary

At treeline and above up to 20 cm of consolidated, wind-affected snow covers a crust all aspects up to 2200 m and mountain tops on solar aspects. Recent northeast wind has formed wind slabs on lee aspects below ridgetops and left a variety of wind-affected surfaces. Another prominent crust layer is found 30-70 cm deep. 

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

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.