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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 2nd, 2023–Apr 3rd, 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

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Spring is a dynamic time of year; conditions can vary widely and change rapidly. Localized periods of heavy snowfall may form fresh, reactive slabs, while even short periods of strong sun can rapidly destabilize the upper snowpack.

Carefully assess your local conditions and pay attention to how the weather is affecting the snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity reported Saturday:

  • natural loose dry avalanches up to size 2

  • natural loose wet avalanches out of steep solar aspects to size 1

  • ski cut wind slabs on immediate lees of ridgetops to size 1

Snowpack Summary

A moist or crusty surface may exist on solar aspects and below 1300 m. 10 to 20 cm of recent snow has been wind-affected at upper elevations by previous strong southeast to southwest winds. The recent snow sits over a melt-freeze crust exists on all aspects at treeline and below, and on solar aspects to the mountain top. On high north aspects dry snow remains.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story.

A weak layer of sugary facets is still prominent at the base of the snowpack. Small surface avalanches and cornice falls are the most likely things to trigger this layer. However, there remains a concern for human triggering in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm. Light northeast wind. Alpine low -12 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday

Mostly sunny. Light northwest wind. Alpine high of -4 °C. Freezing level rises to 1300 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Light variable wind. Alpine high of -3 °C. Freezing level rises to 1400 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate southwest wind. Alpine high of -4 °C. Freezing level rises to 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent 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.