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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 2nd, 2018–Apr 3rd, 2018

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Fresh snow may hide wind slabs on north aspects. Be wary of cornices: they are large and fragile, especially in the north of the region. Watch for rapid snow loading in the south (Coquihalla) on Tuesday, and be prepared to dial back terrain use.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Unsettled weather until the next system arrives on Wednesday. Freezing levels will increase slowly & steadily.TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries Monday overnight and into the morning (5-15 cm, with higher totals possible in the South) / Light to moderate south west wind (some strong west winds in the Coquihalla and Manning) / Alpine temperature -7 / Freezing level 1200m WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with flurries (5-10 cm) / Moderate south west wind / Alpine temperature -6 / Freezing level 1300m THURSDAY: Snow (5-15cm) / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1600m

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday two skiers triggered a size 1 wind slab (40cm thick crown) in a down wind (lee) area, north facing aspect near 2060m elevation up Phelix creek. See the MIN post for more details. On Thursday, skiers triggered a size 2 wind slab that caught and carried a skier near Steep Creek in the Duffey zone. Slab thickness was 15-20cm. See this MIN post for more details. A week ago there was report of a skier triggered wind slab from the north of the region in the alpine near ridge top running on a layer of facets buried March 21. See this MIN post for more details.

Snowpack Summary

Convective flurries and gusty winds on Easter Sunday resulted in some local accumulations up to 25cm; however, most areas saw 10-15cm of new snow. This new snow sits on melt-freeze crusts on sunny aspects at treeline and below or it sits on hard wind slabs in the alpine, and possibly some soft wind slabs on shady aspects.Winds picked up earlier on Sunday morning, creating fresh wind slabs on northerly aspects. Snow from a week ago sits on a deeper crust that is present at all elevations on sunny aspects as well as low elevation northerly aspects. On northerly and east aspects between 1900m and 2250m the old storm snow sits on a mix of large surface hoar and or facets buried March 21st, and found down anywhere from 20-70cm. The distribution the March 21st layer is patchy, and has resulted in some hard to trigger avalanches ranging from size 1 to 2.5.

Problems

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.

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.