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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2021–Apr 13th, 2021

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Sunny weather and warm temperatures will increase the likelihood of wet loose avalanches on sun-exposed slopes, and cornice failure. Expect to find pockets of wind slab at upper elevations, which may be reactive to human triggers.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure, with sunny skies and high freezing levels will dominate the weather pattern this week.

Monday night - Mainly clear with a few clouds / moderate northeast wind / alpine low temperature near -7 / freezing level 800 m 

Tuesday - Mainly sunny / moderate northeast wind / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 2000 m 

Wednesday - Mainly Sunny / moderate northeast wind / alpine high temperature near 1 / freezing level 2400 m 

Thursday - Sunny / moderate northeast wind / alpine high temperature near 2 / freezing level 2500 m

Avalanche Summary

There were a few size 1-1.5 human triggered wind slab avalanches reported in the past few days. Small natural dry loose avalanches were also noted on southeast aspects in the Kootenay Pass area.

Looking forward, wind slabs may remain reactive in leeward terrain features. Small wet loose avalanches are expected on steep solar aspects with sunny weather and rising freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

A new crust has formed on the surface on solar aspects, and on all aspects up to about 1500 metres. Below it, 5-15 cm of recent storm snow sits on another crust on solar aspects. Sunshine and rising freezing levels are expected to soften the surface crust during the day. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.