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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2021–Apr 1st, 2021

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Spring sunshine is intense, so keep an eye on steep slopes facing the sun in the heat of the day. Wind slabs remain a concern at upper elevations. 

Confidence

High - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday Night: Clear periods. Ridgetop wind moderate southwest. Alpine temperatures near -5 and freezing level 1000 m. 

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with sunny periods. Ridgetop wind moderate southwest. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 1500 m. 

Friday: Cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated flurries. Ridgetop wind light to moderate southwest. Alpine temperatures near -4 and freezing levels 1400 m. 

Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -2 and freezing level 1800 m.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to thin wind slabs to size 1.5 and loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 from steep terrain facing the sun.

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Sunday afternoon and evening up to size 2.5 during the storm. A near miss was also reported on the Coquihalla size 2.5 on Sunday as well. Check out this MIN report for more details.  

 

Snowpack Summary

40-60 cm of new snow blanketed the region by Monday morning. This snow fell with strong southwest wind building fresh reactive storm and wind slabs. The new snow has buried a mix of widespread hard crust and a bit of moist new snow below about 1700 metres and to either sheltered low density or wind-affected dry snow above this elevation. The lower snowpack is strong and settled.

Cornices along ridgelines are large and looming, especially after this storm. Avoid slopes with cornices overhead and give them a large berth while travelling along ridgelines. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.