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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2022–Apr 14th, 2022

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos.

Heightened avalanche conditions exist in alpine terrain due to lingering wind slabs and large cornices.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, no precipitation, 20 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures drop to -15 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing cloud in the afternoon, no precipitation, 20 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures warm to -10 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind, treeline temperatures warm to -8 C.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind, treeline temperatures warm to -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

Reports since the weekend indicate there have been a few large cornice falls in alpine terrain, some of which have triggered large wind slab avalanches (size 2-2.5) on the slopes below. We suspect the reactivity of these wind slabs is diminishing under the current weather pattern, but cornices remain a concern.

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind from the northeast formed slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above. 20 to 50 cm of recent snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2000 m. A sun crust likely extends to mountain tops on solar aspects. Another prominent crust layer is found 40 to 70 cm deep. 

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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.

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.