Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2022–Apr 17th, 2022

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when travelling on ridge tops. Wet loose avalanches may occur on sunny slopes in the afternoon. 

Observations are limited at this time of year. Let us know what you are seeing by filling out a MIN report!

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mainly clear. Alpine temperature drops to -7 °C. 10-25 km/h wind from the northwest.

SUNDAY: Cloud cover increases in the afternoon. Alpine temperature rising to -4 °C. Mostly light northwest wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.

MONDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperature rising to -3 °C. 20-50 km/h wind from the southeast.

TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 5cm of accumulation. Alpine temperature rising to -3 °C. 10-30 km/h wind from the southeast.

Avalanche Summary

Reports over the last week documented large cornice falls in alpine terrain, some of which have triggered large wind slab avalanches (size 2-2.5) on the slopes below. We suspect the reactivity of these wind slabs is diminishing under the current weather pattern, but cornices remain a concern.

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind from the northeast has left a variety of wind-affected surfaces. In sheltered areas, 20-50 cm of snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2000 m. A sun crust likely extends to mountain tops on solar aspects. Another prominent crust layer is found 40 to 70 cm deep. 

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Problems

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.