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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2024–Apr 13th, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Warm temperatures and strong solar radiation have settled up to 40 cm of recent snow into a reactive slab.

Stay alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several natural and rider triggered storm/wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on primarily northerly aspects in the alpine on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 15 cm of new snow sits on a thin crust everywhere except north facing aspects at upper elevations where the recent snow remained dry.

Up to 40 cm of recent snow can be found at upper elevations and is settling rapidly with intense solar radiation and warm temperatures. Previous southwest wind formed slabs on lee features in the alpine.

The recent snow sits above a crust in most areas. The exception is on northerly aspects above 2200 m where it overlies dry snow.Expect difficult travel at lower elevations with thin snow coverage.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.