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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2012–Apr 5th, 2012

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Thursday and Friday: unsettled conditions with isolated light flurries interspersed with intense sunshine. Freezing levels hovering around 1000m-1200m and light to moderate northerly ridgetop winds. Saturday: Mainly clear and dry with light winds and 1200m freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

Observations from Tuesday are limited due to poor visibility. Reports include one natural cornice triggered Size 2.5, 100cm thick wind slab avalanche on a north aspect. One recent Size 3 glide slab avalanche was also observed on a south aspect at 1800m.

Snowpack Summary

Another 10-40cm during the day and overnight Tuesday added to the 30-60cm of recent storm snow. Sustained southeasterly through northeasterly winds contributed to continued wind slab formation at all elevations, as well as cornice development. Although generally settling and bonding well, recent snowpack tests on a north facing treeline slope resulted in easy to moderate shears down 25cm within the storm snow, and down 65cm on an underlying crust. Not only will daytime warming and sun-exposure cause surface snow to lose cohesion and cornices to weaken, they will also increase settlement rates and decrease slab stability.

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.

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.