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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2023–Apr 26th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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, Vancouver Island, Powell River, North Shore, Sasquatch, Tetrahedron, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

A rising freezing level will increase avalanche hazard. Use extra caution near cornices and reduce exposure to steep slopes as the snow surface moisten.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

The weekend saw many loose wet avalanches that were triggered naturally and by riders. We expect that similar avalanches will occur this week as freezing levels rise, bringing warm air, some rain, and sun.

Avoiding cornice exposure is also a good idea, as they will weaken with warm air and could fail naturally or under the weight of a human.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface is moist to mountain tops from warm air and rain. The remainder of the snowpack is strong and well-bonded.

Cornices are large and looming at this time of year.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Increasing clouds with rain for northern Vancouver Island, accumulation 2 to 5 mm, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature 4 °C, freezing level 2700 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with morning rain, accumulation 2 to 5 mm and up to 10 mm for central and north Vancouver Island, 20 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature 4 °C, freezing level 2500 m.

Thursday

Mostly sunny with no precipitation, 10 km/h variable wind, treeline temperature 10 °C, freezing level 3500 m.

Friday

Sunny with no precipitation, 10 km/h variable wind, treeline temperature 15 °C, freezing level 3900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.

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.