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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2024–Apr 8th, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

A low avalanche hazard doesn't mean there are no avalanche hazards. Watch for wind-affected snow directly lee of ridges and high points and steer clear.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several wet loose avalanches from steep south-facing slopes were skier triggered on Saturday.

Wind slabs are unlikely to be human-triggered. The most likely areas where wind slabs may linger are directly lee of high spots and ridge features.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 20 cm of new snow is dry and settled on north-facing slopes and becomes moist on solar-facing slopes, covering a melt-freeze crust on all aspects and elevations.

A second crust formed in late March can also be found in the upper snowpack at variable depths depending on aspect and elevation.

A persistent weak layer of facets sits atop a second buried crust down 80 to 180 cm. This layer is unlikely to be human-triggered in areas where a thick crust above the weak layer is present.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mainly cloudy, 15 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C.

Monday

Mostly clear skies, increasing cloud overnight with flurries 2 to 5 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -3° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy in the morning with scattered flurries tapering in the afternoon, 2 to 4 cm. 30 to 40 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature 0° C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy, 10 to 15 km/h wind, treeline temperature 0° C, freezing level 2000 to 2100 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.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.