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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2024–Apr 11th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson.

Start on small features and carefully assess the snowpack before entering committing terrain.

Retreat to mellower terrain if you find signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, several loose wet and storm slab avalanches were naturally and skier-triggered across the region. They ranged from small size 1's to a very large size 3, and occurred on a variety of aspects and elevation bands.

On Monday, west of Terrace, numerous large (up to size 2.5) natural avalanches were reported.

On Sunday, several large (size 2-3) natural avalanches were reported.

It may take a few more days for the recent storm snow to bond to underlying layers.

Snowpack Summary

30-75 cm of settling snow sits on a widespread crust, except on north-facing upper-elevation slopes where isolated pockets of small surface hoar (weak feathery crystals) and/or faceted snow may be buried. The widespread crust was formed in early April and the recent snow may still be poorly bonded to it in some areas.

Recent southerly winds have likely formed deeper, more reactive deposits of snow in leeward terrain.

Previously problematic layers deeper in the snowpack appear to have bonded and strengthened, however, there is a small chance that they could remain a risk in steep, north-facing, high alpine terrain.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow possible. 50 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -2 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. Trace amounts of snow possible. 10 to 25 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.

Friday

Partly cloudy. Trace amounts of snow possible. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of new snow possible. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.