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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2023–Apr 21st, 2023

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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Rockies, Blue River, McBride, Premier, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

It's a challenge to manage different avalanche concerns that vary by elevation and aspect. Observe local conditions and use that information to help select terrain and travel techniques. Match terrain to conditions!

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Only report is of solar triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 in the afternoon. Please remember there are few eyes still out there regularly reporting field observations.

Snowpack Summary

Anywhere from a trace to 50 cm of recent snow is settling and bonding at higher elevations and north-facing slopes towards treeline. Windslabs are possible in immediate lee features.

On solar aspects at all elevations, and north aspects treeline and below, the recent snow either overlies a widespread melt-freeze crust or there is a crust at the surface. Watch for surface snow becoming moist in the afternoon.

The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong. A weak layer of facets at the base of the snowpack remains a concern, primarily in alpine terrain with shallow or variable (thick and thin) snowpack depths but also where there's overhead hazard (for example from cornices).

Weather Summary

Thursday Overnight

Mostly cloudy with flurries and anywhere from a trace to 5 cm of snow. Light to moderate southerly ridgetop winds in the Cariboos. Moderate to strong easterly upslope winds in the North Rockies. Treeline temperatures around -5 to -10 C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with only a trace of precipitation. Light, gusting moderate, east (North Rockies) or southerly (Cariboos) ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around -5 C. Freezing level around 1900 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Just a trace of new snow with 5 cm in favoured snow holes in the North Rockies. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around -5 C. Freezing level around 1900 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries, accumulations around 5 cm. Moderate southerly winds. Treeline temperatures around -3 and freezing level around 2100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.