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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2023–Apr 20th, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Fresh wind slabs may be reactive to human triggers on leeward slopes in the alpine.

Short bursts of the warm April sun can weaken the upper snowpack quickly. Avoid solar slopes if the sun is shining.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new reports on Wednesday.

Observations are limited at this time of year, please consider sharing any information or photos you have on the Mountain Information Network to help guide our forecasts.

Snowpack Summary

Recent southerly winds have redistributed dry snow forming isolated wind slabs on leeward slopes and behind terrain features. The snow sits over wind-affected surfaces or a crust on south-facing slopes.

A weak layer buried in late March is down 30-50 cm and exists as surface hoar and facets on north-facing slopes and a crust elsewhere. Test results show that this layer may be reactive to human triggers in isolated locations on north-facing slopes where the layer is well-preserved and have a cohesive overlying slab.

The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts. Near the ground, weak faceted crystals exist. There hasn't been avalanche activity on this layer recently, but it remains on our radar and may become active when we experience change, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Trace of new snow. Ridgetop winds 40-50 km/h from the southeast. Temperature at treeline around -5 C and freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. Ridgetop wind 30-50 km/h from the southeast. Temperature at treeline around -4 C freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 15-20 km/h from the southwest. Temperature at treeline around -4C with freezing level 1100 m.

Saturday

Cloudy. Ridgteop wind 30-50 Km/h from the southwest. Temperature at treeline around -4 C with freezing level near 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

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.