Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2024–Apr 14th, 2024

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Watch for reactive wind slabs as your search for dry snow.

Minimize your exposure to sun baked slopes. Sun and rising temperatures will increase potential for wet avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Sun and rising temperatures produced loose wet activity on many steep slopes. We expect this to continue as temperatures remain high.

On Thursday, reactivity to human triggers was reported near ridgelines within the new wind affected storm snow. This may continue in high elevation, north facing terrain features. Cornice falls have also been reported, triggering slabs on the slopes below.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of moist or wet snow exists on sun affected slopes to around 2500 m, and shaded aspects to around 1900 m. This surface snow may not refreeze overnight leading to soft and slushy conditions, ideal for wet snow avalanches. On north facing slopes near ridgelines, deposits of dry snow can be found, affected by the previous strong southwesterly winds.

Below treeline elevations have minimal snow cover, if any at all. Expect challenging travel conditions with hazards like rocks, stumps and open creeks. Check out this MIN from Mt Price for a great summary of snow conditions.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly clear skies. 10-20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level remains above 2500 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30-50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures range from +10 to +5 °C. Freezing level drops back to 2000 m over the day.

Monday

Increasing cloud with 30-50 km/h westerly winds. Freezing level drops to 1000 m. Treeline temperatures of -5 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly clear skies with 10-20 km/h northerly winds. Freezing level around 1000 m. Treeline temperatures of -5 °C

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.
Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

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.