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 14th, 2023–Apr 15th, 2023

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

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Keep an eye on the wind and new snow amounts. Storm slab reactivity will increase throughout the day. Be prepared to dial back your terrain selection.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches were reported on Thursday but observations are limited this time of year.

We expect that new rider triggerable slabs will form throughout the day.

If you are venturing into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accompanied by southerly winds will overlie a crust at treeline and below. In the alpine this new snow will fall on a variety of surfaces including dry snow and wind slab on the north and crust and wind pressed surfaces on the south.

Several crusts can be found in the upper snowpack. A well settled snowpack exists below.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected. Increasing southerly winds and a low of -6°C at 1800 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong southerly winds and freezing level rising to 1400 m with the snowline around 1100 m.

Sunday

Stormy with up to 20 cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m. Snowline around 1000 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow possible. Moderate southeast winds and a high of -4°C at 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

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.