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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2018–Apr 2nd, 2018

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

In the north of the region, wind slabs may sit on a weak layer of facets or surface hoar on shady aspects in the alpine and tree line. See Friday's Forecaster Blog for more details: goo.gl/8Z83CvAvoid sunny slopes if the sun comes out in full force.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Monday will see mixed weather before a more organized system arrives on Wednesday. Convective activity could result in locally higher accumulations. Temperatures are staying cool for this time of year. MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud and occasional flurries in the afternoon / Light to moderate north west wind / Alpine temperature -9 / Freezing level 1000m TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries (2-5 cm possible) / Light to moderate south west wind / Alpine temperature -7 / Freezing level 1200m WEDNESDAY: Snow (5-15cm) / Moderate south west wind / Alpine temperature -4 / Freezing level 1400m  

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday two skiers triggered a size 1 wind slab (40cm thick crown) in a down wind (lee) area, north facing aspect near 2060m elevation up Phelix creek. See the MIN post for more details. On Thursday, skiers triggered a size 2 wind slab that caught and carried a skier near Steep Creek in the Duffey zone. Slab thickness was 15-20cm. See this MIN post for more details. On Tuesday there was report of a skier triggered wind slab from the north of the region in the alpine near ridge top running on a layer of facets buried March 21. See this MIN post for more details.

Snowpack Summary

The past four days have seen only 5-15 cm of new snow in most areas (although convective activity on Sunday could produce additional local amounts of 10-15cm). Daytime warming created moist, heavy surface snow on sunny aspects, which refroze to form a crust overnight. Winds picked up on Sunday morning, creating fresh wind slabs on northerly aspects. The newer snow sits on a wide variety of surfaces: hard wind slabs, soft wind slabs on shady aspects, and the melt-freeze crusts on sunny aspects. Snow from a week ago sits on a deeper crust that is present at all elevations on sunny aspects as well as low elevation northerly aspects. On northerly and east aspects at treeline and alpine elevations the storm snow sits on a mix of large surface hoar and or facets.In the south of the region, around the Coquihalla and in Manning Park, the last storm snow overlies a recent crust that caps a well settled 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.