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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2019–Apr 26th, 2019

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Limited recent field observations mean that this forecast should be used to guide your initial assessment of conditions. See our 'Cold & Snowy' spring scenario for more on managing current conditions.

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday Night: Cloudy with flurries bringing approximately 5-10 cm of new snow. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -6 with freezing levels to 800 metres.

Friday: Cloudy with flurries bringing approximately 5-10 cm of new snow. Light to moderate south winds shifting southwest. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1000 metres.

Saturday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northeast or northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -3 with freezing levels to 1300 metres.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. Alpine high temperatures around -3 with freezing levels to 1200 metres.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from the Bear Pass area on Wednesday showed a few new size 2 (large) wind slab releases observed in steep leeward features in the alpine.

No new avalanches have been reported in the south of the region.

Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Up to10 cm of new snow fell over Tuesday night, adding to 10-30 cm of new snow that fell Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest winds are expected to have formed reactive wind slabs with much of this recent snow. The new snow sits on an older layer of settled storm snow from last week, which itself overlies a now 40-60 cm-deep melt freeze crust. This crust is widespread with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. Most of the recent precipitation has fallen as rain at 1000 m and below.

At lower elevations, ongoing warm weather has been promoting isothermal snowpack conditions and melting the snowpack away.

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.

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.