Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Apr 10, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will moisten quickly and increase the potential of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs in immediate alpine lee features may be reactive to human triggering.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    40 cm of storm snow is slowly bonding with the dry snow on north aspects which might still hold older wind slabs. Moderate northwest wind overnight might create a new shallow wind slab in immediate lee features on southeast aspects.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Expect the snow surface to moisten and the potential for loose wet avalanche to increase on sun exposed slopes as soon as the sun is coming out.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy / light to moderate northwest wind / freezing level 1200 mWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / light southwest wind / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1800 mTHURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / light west wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1700 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light westerly wind / alpine high temperature -6 C / freezing level 1700 m

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, several natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on west, north and east aspects in the alpine. A few natural and human triggered wind slabs to size 1.5 were reported from immediate lee features in the alpine. Several natural loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed on northerly aspects at treeline and in the alpine.On Sunday and Saturday, there were a few reports of natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches up to size 2 at treeline and alpine elevations. There were also reports of several natural and human triggered loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on steep solar slopes and below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 40 cm of recent storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in some areas. These slopes may also have a layer of sugary faceted snow buried 60 to 80 cm. On northern aspects the new snow is not bonding as well and humans can trigger storm slab avalanches. Strong southwest winds on Monday created isolated wind slabs in lee features at treeline and in the alpine. On sun exposed slopes the new snow might release as loose wet avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.

Regions covered