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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 14th, 2025–Apr 15th, 2025

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

If you're heading to higher, north-facing terrain in search of dry snow, watch for pockets of wind slab and avoid travelling beneath cornices

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

In the past few days, several natural wind slabs have been reported from north and east alpine terrain, many of them cornice triggered. A few of these avalanches are suspected to have stepped down to buried weak layers, producing avalanches to size 3.5.

Similar activity may occur on Tuesday, as new snow and wind form fresh, reactive wind slabs.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of new snow overlies wind-affected surfaces in exposed areas. Below this, a crust exists on south-facing slopes to mountaintop, and on all aspects below 1900 m.

A layer of surface hoar, facets, and crust is buried 60 to 120 cm deep. Recent avalanches may have stepped down to this layer, it also remains a possibility for triggering with heavy loads like cornice falls.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature drops to -5 °C. Freezing level drops to 500 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Mostly clear. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Thursday

Mostly clear. 5 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rising to 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.

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.

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.