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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2024–Apr 14th, 2024

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

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Keep your head up and avoid exposure to overhead hazard while the solar input is strong.

Daytime warming and solar input will keep the avalanche hazard elevated.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We haven't recieved any reports of avalanches in the past few days but observations are limited this time of year.

Please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network if you are getting out in the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Dry snow may still be found on high north facing terrain. This is also where wind slabs may be found. The snow surface will likely become moist on all other slopes.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong.

There is insufficient snow to form avalanches for most below treeline elevations.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear skies. 5 to 15 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level around 2500 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level around 2500 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow.  15 to 30 km/h northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -1°C.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h north alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

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.