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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2019–Apr 18th, 2019

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Recently formed storm slabs remain reactive to human triggers on all aspects at treeline and above. The forecast rising freezing levels on Thursday are expected to increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy / Light, westerly winds / Alpine low 3 C / Freezing level 2500 m.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light to moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 6 C / Freezing level 2700 m.

FRIDAY: Rain (snow above roughly 2300 m); 15-25 mm. / Moderate to strong, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 5 C / Freezing level 2500 m.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 4 C / Freezing level 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a party skiing near Kootenay Pass reported "whumphing" on solar aspects near ridgetops and triggered a size 2 storm slab avalanche sitting on a crust on a north aspect at around 2000 m. See the MIN report HERE.

On Sunday, several small size 1 wind slabs were reactive to explosives, one size 3 wind slab avalanche was triggered with a very large explosive. Near Whitewater a skier triggered a windslab avalanche on a steep northwest aspect in the alpine. See the MIN report here.

Snowpack Summary

20-40 cm recent snow is sitting on a crust on all aspects below 2000 m which has recently been reactive to riders. A warming snowpack will drive avalanche hazard as above 0 C temperatures climb to the high alpine. Below treeline snow is disappearing rapidly.

Problems

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.