Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2025–Apr 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Assess for warming-related avalanche problems this weekend. Monday's storm could form new wind slabs.

This is the final daily avalanche forecast for the season.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

This report on Thursday describes small wet loose avalanches and glide slab releases on sun-exposed slopes. Similar activity is possible in the coming days with daytime warming.

This report highlights large cornices that still exist along alpine ridgelines. Cornices could fail at any point.

Please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A hard melt-freeze crust is found on the snow surface everywhere except for north aspects of high alpine terrain, where a soft snow surface may prevail. The crust will soften with daytime warming. Monday's storm may form new wind slabs in lee alpine terrain features and otherwise wet the snow surface where precipitation falls as rain.

There are no deeper layers of concern. Cornices remain large and looming in the alpine.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of alpine snow and rain below. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.

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.

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.