Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Apr 23 – 24, 2018Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map

Highlights

Sunshine and rising temperatures will elevate the avalanche danger throughout the week. Be aware of changing conditions throughout the day and avoid overhead hazards. This is our final daily forecast for the season which will expire on April 25th.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3.5
    Professionals are traveling cautiously in shaded upper treeline and alpine terrain due to a weak layer buried 50 to 100 cm below the surface. Forecast warming and cornice failures may re-activate this layer in isolated terrain.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Warming and solar radiation are expected to trigger loose wet avalanches, especially in steep, sun-exposed terrain. Loose wet avalanches can be pushy and entrain mass quickly. Warming may also trigger destructive cornice failures.

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Sunny. Light to moderate southwest wind. Alpine temperature +6. Freezing level 3000 m. WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Light northwest wind. Alpine temperature +9. Freezing level rapidly rising to 3500 m. THURSDAY: Sunny. Light west wind. Alpine temperature +11. Freezing level 3500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche reports have been limited due to very few information sources this time of year. If you have been out, please post your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

A weak layer consisting of surface hoar, facets, and/or a melt-freeze crust from late March is now buried about 50 to 100 cm below the surface. This layer is spotty in its distribution; however, it has recently produced large and destructive avalanches. It is mostly likely to be problematic on west, north, and east aspects between 1900 m and 2250 m. I'd continue to treat this layer very cautiously and would anticipate increase reactivity on this layer with the warming forecast for the next few days.The mid and lower snowpack are well-settled and strong.

Regions covered