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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 21st, 2023–Apr 22nd, 2023

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

Regions

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

Forecast rain to mountain tops on Saturday may rapidly destabilize the recent snow and increase the likelihood of triggering recently formed storm slabs.

Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were reported on Thursday. However, observations in this region are currently very limited.

Observations are very limited at this time of year, please consider sharing any information or photos you have on the Mountain Information Network to help guide our forecasts.

Snowpack Summary

Forecast rain to mountain tops on Saturday may rapidly destabilize the recent snow and trigger a wet loose avalanche cycle.

10-25 cm of recent snow and extreme southerly wind on Thursday formed fresh storm slabs. The new snow overlies a rain crust that likely extends to mountain tops in many areas.

The middle and lower snowpack are strong and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with flurries; 3-15 cm(rain below 1000 m) / 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 0 C / Freezing level 1100 m

Saturday

Rain; 3-10 mm / 50 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 5 C / Freezing level rapidly rising to 2100 m

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-10 cm / 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 2 C / Freezing level 1300 m

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud / 10 km/h west ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 4 C / Freezing level 1600 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

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.

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.