Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 8th, 2022–Apr 9th, 2022

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

Regions

Cariboos.

 Strong West winds combined with an additional 5-20 cm of new snow may build fresh and reactive wind slabs. Snowfall amounts vary across the region.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

A cool and unstable weather pattern will exist through the weekend bringing a mixed bag of conditions. Some areas will see higher snowfall amounts than others.

Friday Night: New snow 5 cm. Moderate to strong West winds at ridgetop and freezing levels near 800 m. 

Saturday/ Sunday: Cloudy possible sunny periods with new snow 5-15 cm. Moderate ridgetop wind from the northwest. Freezing levels 1200 m and dropping to valley bottom overnight. Alpine temperatures near -10 C.

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level near 700 m and alpine temperatures -15 C. Ridgetop winds light from the West.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a natural size 2 wind slab was reported from a steep northwest slope at 2300 m and two size 2 slab avalanches were reported at treeline on easterly aspects. The warming produced lots of pinwheeling within the surface snow and wet loose avalanche activity up to size 2.5. 

On Wednesday, solar-induced natural wet loose avalanches were reported up to size 2, and a cornice fall triggered a size 2 wind slab on the slope below. 

Snowpack Summary

A surface crust may exist on all aspects up to 1900 m and southerly aspects up to 2200 m. 10-20 cm of new snow may be found in the alpine. Fresh wind slabs have formed in exposed high elevation terrain forming wind slabs and large cornices. 

The upper metre of the snowpack consists of multiple buried crusts and the top 70 cm of consolidated snow sits above the late March melt-freeze crust. There have been no recent avalanches on this interface. 

. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.

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.