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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2023–Apr 12th, 2023

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on lee aspects at treeline and above.

Watch for recently formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several skier triggered small (size 1) 20 cm deep wind slabs were reported on northerly aspects at treeline near Mt. Washington on Monday.

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

Around 25-50 cm of heavy, wet new snow exists between 1000-1400 m. Above 1400 m, dry snow has likely been redistributed into deeper deposits on north-facing terrain features by strong southerly winds. Below 1000 m, rain has saturated the snowpack.

The storm snow sits over a melt-freeze crust at mid-elevations, and over settling dry snow at high elevations on shaded slopes. The middle and lower snowpack is strong and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Partly cloudy with flurries; 5-10 cm / 20 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 600 m

Wednesday

Sunny / 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 3 C / Freezing level rising to 1400 m

Thursday

Cloudy / 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 0 C / Freezing level 1000 m

Friday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-10 cm / 30 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 1 C / Freezing level 1100 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.