Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Apr 11 – 12, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will become moist and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs might still be sensitive to human triggering.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Up to 50 cm of snow sits on a crust in most locations, except for high elevation, north facing terrain where the old snow surface remained dry with surface hoar in isolated locations. Wind slabs in lee features may remain reactive to human triggers.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    As soon as the sun is coming out the snow surface will become moist and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches on sun exposed slopes.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods / light easterly wind / freezing level 400 mFRIDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods and isolated flurries / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1800 mSATURDAY: Cloudy / up to 15 cm of snow accumulation / strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1600 mSUNDAY: Cloudy / up to 5 cm of snow accumulation / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -7 C / freezing level 1500 m

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday the avalanche activity decreased. A few natural and human triggered wind/storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on west and north aspects at treeline and in the alpine. On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 20-40 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects. Two of these were remotely triggered, one by humans and another one by a helicopter. A layer of small surface hoar below the most recent snow may have been the weak layer. Several natural wet slab and loose wet avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from south and west aspects (see a MIN report from Glacier National Park).

Snowpack Summary

Last weeks unsettled weather produced 30-50 cm of snow that sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in some areas. On northern aspects the new snow is slowly bonding and humans might still trigger wind slab avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.

Regions covered