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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2024–Apr 21st, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Shuswap, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan.

Watch for fresh and reactive wind slabs forming in high leeward terrain features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A small handful of avalanches have been reported in the alpine over past couple of days. These have included;

  • a remotely skier-triggered size 2 failing on moist snow below the crust, in which another skier was caught but did not sustain any injury

  • a skier-controlled size 1 wind slab below an convex roll

  • a natural size 2 storm slab on a steep, west-facing moraine feature

  • a cornice failure did not propagate any weak layers on the slope below

Snowpack Summary

New snow falls over a widespread melt-freeze crust on all but high north-facing alpine terrain, where dry and/or wind affected snow may be found.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Up to 10 cm of new snow at upper elevations. 30 to 60 km/h southeast to southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow at upper elevations. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday

Clouds clearing. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000m.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2500m.

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.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.

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.