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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2017–Apr 20th, 2017

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Conditions are touchy at higher elevations, with storm slabs bonding poorly to the Easter crust. Dial back your terrain use until conditions settle out.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Light precipitation amounts on Wednesday through to Thursday afternoon. Fine weather on Friday.THURSDAY: Snow overnight Wednesday and then tapering by noon Thursday (accumulations of 5-15cm possible above 1500m in the north). Winds moderate southerly.FRIDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Freezing level rising to 2200m. High temperatures to +6 Celsius. Winds light southerly.SATURDAY: Wet weather returns around noon (5-10mm by the evening). Freezing levels falling to 1700m. Winds moderate southerly.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday we had reports of several loose wet avalanches to Size 2 running on north aspects in the alpine in the Duffey zone. The new snow was especially reactive to ski cutting on solar (south) aspects, running easily on the Easter crust. On Tuesday we had reports of small, loose wet avalanches, pinwheeling and plenty of avalanche debris in the Coquihalla zone. See here for the MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

This region has received 7-10cm of snow above 1500m on each of the past three days. Dry snow (20-30cm) can still be found above 2100m, however, it sits on the Easter temperature crust and is proving reactive.At lower elevations the new (moist) snow is sliding easily on the Easter crust and is the primary concern. Below treeline, the snow is moist and typically has not been refreezing overnight: Loose wet avalanches remain a concern in this elevation band.Cornices remain large in some areas and could trigger large avalanches when they fail (especially when warmed by the sun). The fatal accident near Lions Bay a week ago illustrates the danger of cornices breaking off, and the large avalanches they can trigger.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.