Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2025–Apr 28th, 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, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Assess for warming-related avalanche problems this weekend. New snow on Monday could form small wind slabs on alpine slopes.

This is the final daily avalanche forecast for the season.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received any recent reports of avalanche activity.

Wet loose avalanches and cornice falls are possible this weekend with daytime warming. Monday's storm may form small wind slabs in the alpine and continue wet loose activity at lower elevations.

Please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A hard melt-freeze crust is found on the snow surface everywhere except perhaps in the high alpine, where a dusting of dry snow may be found. The crust will soften with daytime warming. Monday's storm may build new slabs in the alpine.

Two weak layers that formed in February and March are found in the middle of the snowpack. These layers haven't produced any recent avalanches, but they could be triggered with a large load, such as a cornice fall.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of alpine snow and rain below. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.

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.