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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 24th, 2023–Apr 25th, 2023

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

South Coast, Powell River, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

A rising freezing level will increase avalanche hazard. Use extra caution near cornices and reduce exposure to steep slopes as the snow moisten.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received any recent avalanche observations but suspect that loose wet avalanches were triggered naturally during Sunday night's stormy weather.

We expect to see similar avalanches in the coming days during periods of sunny skies and an increasing freezing level.

Avoiding cornice exposure is a good idea, as they are very large and looming at this time of year.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has soaked the upper snowpack, leaving a moist snow surface that may freeze into a melt-freeze crust overnight. Increasing freezing levels and periods of sun will moisten the snow with daytime warming.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong and well-bonded.

Cornices are large and looming at this time of year.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 10 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1300 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with some sunny breaks and no precipitation, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature 4 °C, freezing level rising to 1900 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with trace rain, 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature 7 °C, freezing level 2700 m.

Thursday

Sunny with no precipitation, 10 km/h variable wind, treeline temperature 10 °C, freezing level 3600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.