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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2023–Apr 8th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw.

Watch for changing conditions as you travel through different aspects and elevations.

Snowfall continues to accumulate, especially in coastal areas. Expect reactivity in wind loaded features & keep an eye on snow surface conditions at low elevation.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday operators reported loose wet activity at low elevations where temperatures remained warm. Natural and rider triggered avalanche activity was reported within the recent storm snow, mostly to size 1, with larger results produced by explosive control methods in heavy snowfall areas.

On the weekend a rider triggered a size 2 slab on weak crystals above the crust from the end of March, resulting in a full burial. The person involved was extricated with no injuries. This layer has shown reactivity in isolated features where the snowpack thins and weak layers are shallower.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snowfall totals may reach 40 or 50 cm in coastal areas, and taper as you move inland where about 15-20 cm of snow has fallen. This continues to be redistributed by southerly winds into wind slabs on north-facing slopes. This sits over wind-affected surfaces or a crust on south-facing slopes that extends into the alpine, or weak facetted crystals.

A weak layer buried at the end of March sits 20-40 cm deep. It includes facets and surface hoar in shaded areas, and a melt-freeze crust elsewhere. This layer has shown limited reactivity within the past week.

The mid and lower snowpack are considered generally strong and well-bonded. In far northern reaches of the region, basal facets may exist which are currently considered inactive. This layer may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with 5-15 cm of snow. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing levels around 800 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with strong to extreme southerly winds. Snow intensifies with 15-40 cm possible. Highest amounts favour typical coastal terrain. Freezing levels around 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with strong to extreme southerly winds. Another 15-30 cm of snow possible. Freezing levels around 1000 m.

Monday

Cloudy, light snowfall with strong southerly winds. Freezing levels around 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.