Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2022–Apr 12th, 2022

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

Kootenay Boundary.

Watch for small new wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. Ongoing northeast wind is causing reverse loading.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations. Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Partly cloudy, moderate northeast wind, treeline low around -10 °C.

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks and a chance of flurries, light to moderate northeast wind, treeline high around -6 °C.

Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks, light to moderate southeast wind, treeline high around -3 °C.

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks, light to moderate east wind, treeline high around -2 °C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the weekend.

Observations are very limited this time of year. If you are getting out in the backcountry, please consider contributing to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of recent snowfall has buried a widespread melt-freeze crust which formed during the major warming event at the end of last week. Moderate to strong northeast wind on Monday has redistributed this recent snow in exposed terrain forming small wind slabs which sit on the crust.

Multiple crusts exist in the upper snowpack which are well bonded with the current cold conditions. The middle and lower snowpack are currently well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.