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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2025–Apr 17th, 2025

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

Regions

Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Cornices are becoming weak during spring and are prone to sudden failure.

Loose wet avalanches will be likely as the surface crust softens.

Learn more about spring snowpack conditions here.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.

Check out this MIN report showing a couple of old large slabs failing on a crust on northerly aspects at treeline.

NOTE: Observations are currently very limited in this region.

Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.

Snowpack Summary

A typical spring diurnal cycle is underway.

High freezing levels have formed a surface crust everywhere except possibly the highest north-facing terrain.

The snowpack is generally well-settled and strong, although dormant weak layers may still exist in some areas.

Sustained high freezing levels with poor overnight recovery have the potential to awaken dormant weak layers.

Lower elevations are melting out rapidly.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Friday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 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.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
  • Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.