Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2024–Apr 2nd, 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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan, Whatshan.

Consider the consequences of any fall in steep terrain, and continue to use safe travel habits.

Rider triggered avalanches are still possible.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, there were several small avalanches reported, generally thin storm slabs or loose wet avalanches, as well as natural avalanches triggered by sun.

On Saturday, there were several small and large (size 2) skier accidental storm slab avalanches reported. Mostly in steep terrain on east to north aspects in the alpine.

North of Revelstoke there was also one large (size 3) persistent slab avalanche triggered by a helicopter landing at 2300 m on a northeast aspect.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels are staying very elevated, but it's clouding over. Expect the surface to remain moist until the freezing level really drops on Wednesday.

20 to 40 cm of recent snow snow sits on surface hoar crystals that overly soft or wind affected snow on northerly alpine terrain or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere.

Weak faceted grains above a hard crust that formed in early February are buried around 100 to 150 cm deep. The layer is strengthening and is currently dormant.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly clear. No new snow expected. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around 2 °C.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 6 °C. Freezing level between 2500 and 3000 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. Light rainfall turning to snow as the freezing level drops. 5-10 cm possible at high elevations in some areas. Strong southwest ridgetop wind overnight, easing to light through the day. Treeline temperature around -5 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 0-3 cm of snow expected above 1000 m. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.