Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2025–Apr 17th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

The avalanche danger will increase as the temperature rises.

Wet avalanches can run surprisingly far into the valley bottom. Avoid overhead avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanches occurring, however, information is very limited at this time of year.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30 cm of recent snow above 1500 m sits on a melt freeze crust. At low elevations, It's likely there is a crust on the surface.

Three layers are notable in the snowpack:

Surface hoar from mid-March can be found 50 to 100 cm down.
A layer of surface hoar from early-March is buried 100 to 150 cm.
A layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 100 to 200 cm deep.

At elevations below treeline, the snow pack is rain saturated and isothermal.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Thursday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level rising to 3200 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level falling to 1200 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.