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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2019–Apr 13th, 2019

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Light amounts of new snow and moderate southwesterly winds may form fresh small wind slabs reactive to human triggers. Use caution around lee terrain features and convex slopes.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloudiness / Light, westerly winds / Alpine low -4 C / Freezing level 1000 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-10 cm. / Moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high -3 C / Freezing level 1500 m.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high -4 C / Freezing level 1400 m.MONDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high -2 C / Freezing level 1600 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Thursday.A MIN report from Blowdown here documents a size 2 skier triggered wind slab avalanche on a northeast alpine aspect on Monday.A MIN report from the Whistler Backcountry here documents a similar skier triggered slab avalanche on Monday. The avalanche was triggered on a northwesterly aspect in lee terrain below a ridge feature. While outside the forecast region, the avalanche highlights the wind slab problem that exists in the South Coast Inland.

Snowpack Summary

Currently, the snowpack structure changes dramatically with elevation and aspect. 10-20 cm. of recent storm snow (amounts tapering with elevation) is sitting on a melt/freeze crust, except for north facing terrain above 2000 m. where the old snow surface remained dry and small surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) may be present in isolated locations. This recent snow has been affected by the sun and re-distributed by southerly winds, forming wind slabs on lee features below ridgetops.Below roughly 1900 m, the snowpack is moist and is melting rapidly at lower elevations. Check out this useful link for managing avalanche hazard during spring conditions HERE.

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.