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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2025–Apr 18th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

Choose conservative terrain as high temperatures and strong sunshine will weaken the snowpack.

Avoid overhead exposure to cornices, particularly on north facing alpine slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, wind slab avalanches were observed on freshly wind affected slopes, and wet loose avalanches occurred at lower elevations.

Size 2–3 persistent slab avalanches have been reported this week in the Selkirks, triggered naturally (including cornice falls) and remotely, mainly on north-facing alpine terrain.

With rapid warming expected, avalanche activity is likely to increase.

Snowpack Summary

Dry snow lingers over crust on high north-facing slopes. Wind affected surfaces exist elsewhere at high elevations, from variable winds throughout the region. South facing slopes and lower elevations will become moist from sun and warm temperatures.

Surface hoar buried 30–70 cm deep has been reactive this week in the Selkirks, mainly on sheltered north-facing slopes between 2200–2600 m.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, but older weak layers 100–250 cm deep could still be triggered by large loads like cornice falls, especially on high, north facing slopes.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level drops to 500 m.

Friday

Clear skies. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures rise to +8 °C. Freezing level rises to 3000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow above 2000 m, isolated areas may see higher amounts north of Revelstoke. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels around 2000 m, treeline temperatures around -1 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. Light and variable winds. Freezing levels around 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.

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.