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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2025–Apr 12th, 2025

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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, South Coast Inland, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Up to 20 cm of new snow in the alpine and strong southerly wind formed wind slabs on lee features that may remain reactive to human triggers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, numerous skier triggered size 1 wind slabs were reported on northerly aspects in the alpine near Whistler.

Additionally, several skier triggered cornice failures up to size 1.5 were reported.

Numerous natural wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported at treeline and below.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine, up to 20 cm of new snow and strong southerly wind may have formed wind slabs at upper elevations.

At treeline, mixed precipitation has resulted in mostly wet and crusty surfaces.

Lower elevations are generally isothermal and melting out quickly.

The snowpack is generally strong and bonded, although dormant weak layers may still exist in shallow inland areas like the Duffey and Chilcotin.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.