Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 19th, 2023–Apr 20th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

The recent storm snow may take more time to bond to the snowpack, particularly where it rests on weak or smooth layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small to large (size 1 to 2) storm slab avalanches were triggered by riders, explosives, and naturally between Sunday and Tuesday, generally being about 30 cm thick and primarily at alpine and treeline elevations. Some of them were triggered by small pieces of cornices failing.

Human triggering of avalanches is likely decreasing as the storm snow settles, but the possibility remains of triggering slabs in steep lee terrain features or where the storm snow isn't bonding to surface hoar crystals or a smooth crust. Brief periods of sunny skies could also trigger small loose wet avalanches out of steep, rocky terrain on sun-exposed slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Around 50 cm of snow accumulated since the weekend, forming storm slabs. The wind was strong from the south to southeast at times, likely forming wind slabs in lee terrain features on northerly slopes. The surface snow on sun-exposed slopes may moisten during periods of sunny skies.

All this snow may sit on a weak layer of surface hoar crystals on sheltered and shaded treeline and alpine slopes or a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and on all aspects below 1500 m.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

Cornices are large and looming at this time of year.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 30 to 50 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -7 °C, freezing level 1000 m.

Friday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -5 °C, freezing level 1400 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.

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.