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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2023–Apr 7th, 2023

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, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Use caution on north and east slopes where strong winds are building fresh wind slabs that are possible to human trigger.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a few natural thin windslab avalanches were observed in the alpine. A siker accidental size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a northeast slope at 2150m.

On Tuesday, in the southern part of the region, a natural icefall size 2 was reported from a NE aspect in the high alpine. This did not pull a slab avalanche from the slope below.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, avalanche or snowpack observations, or even just a photo.

Snowpack Summary

Friday's flurries overlie 10-30 cm of snow that is settling and bonding to a widespread crust on most aspects except north-facing high alpine slopes, where it sits on old, faceted surfaces.

The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

A weak layer of large facets is found near the base of the snowpack. This layer is still a concern in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Ridgetop wind 50-70 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels 1500 m. Treeline low around -2°C.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries, 3-10 cm accumulation. Ridgetop wind 40-60 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rising to 1700 m. Treeline high around 0°C.

Flurries continue through the night, 3-5 cm of accumulation.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and scattered flurries, 1-3 cm accumulation. Ridgetop wind 50-70 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with scattered flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation. Ridgetop wind 60-80 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.