Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 28th, 2022

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

Watch for heightened avalanche conditions as you climb to elevations where recent snow has accumulated.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies, no precipitation, light wind from the southwest, treeline temperatures cool to -4 C.

TUESDAY: Cloudy, scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of snow above 1000 m, light wind from the south, treeline temperatures around -2 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, isolated flurries with trace amounts of snow above 1000 m, light wind from the southwest, treeline temperatures reach 0 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny skies, no significant precipitation, light wind from the west, treeline temperatures reach +2 C.

Avalanche Summary

Observations from the weekend were limited to a few small wet loose avalanches (size 1). With new snow accumulations at higher elevations, there will be potential for human-triggered slabs in the alpine over the next few days. Similar conditions existed last week when a slab avalanche caught a skier in the Sky Pilot area. It was triggered by a small wet loose avalanche on a northerly aspect in the alpine (see MIN report).

Snowpack Summary

Winter conditions persist at upper elevations, with stormy weather between Sunday and Tuesday bringing 15 to 30 cm of snow above 1200 m. Cool temperatures over the next few days should keep this snow dry, while sun-exposed slopes and lower elevations will likely turn moist or crusty. The lower snowpack is strong under the current cool weather, but large looming cornices remain a concern this time of year.

Terrain and Travel

Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.

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.