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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 2nd, 2023–May 3rd, 2023

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 possible, human triggered probable.
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.

Regions

South Coast, Vancouver Island, Powell River, North Shore, Sasquatch, Tetrahedron, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

A high freezing level is destabilizing the snowpack. Avoid being on or below cornices, avoid exposure to steep slopes during strong sun or if the snow is soggy, and be well aware of any overhead exposure.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Expect wet loose avalanches and cornice failures during periods of warm air and sunny skies. Avoiding steep slopes when the snow feels sloppy and avoiding cornice exposure are good travel habits. Avalanches could be very large and travel far, meaning you should limit exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface is moist to mountain top and is unlikely to freeze overnight. The remainder of the snowpack is strong and well-bonded.

Cornices are large and looming at this time of year.

Weather Summary

Wednesday and Thursday have a freezing level between 3300 m and 3500 m with partly cloudy skies. Stormy conditions prevail for Friday, with predominantly rain and a freezing level declining to 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

Problems

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.