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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2024–Apr 5th, 2024

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

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Strong solar radiation will likely impact the recent storm snow.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, wind, and sun exposure.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, skiers triggered small wind slabs on steep convexities and wet loose avalanches on steep sun-affected slopes at treeline throughout the region. Explosive controls produced several cornice falls, storm slabs and dry loose avalanches up to size 2 around Whistler over the past two days.

If you go into the backcountry, please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 30 cm of recent storm snow is found above 1600 m with greater amounts in northerly alpine terrain. This overlies a moist snow surface or a crust on all aspects, except north-facing alpine slopes where dry snow remains. Recent northerly winds have created reverse-loading and cross-loading patterns on all alpine slopes. The storm snow is rapidly settling at treeline and becoming moist on solar aspects.

The facet/crust layer that produced large avalanches during early March is buried 150-250 cm deep and is currently considered unreactive.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 3 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Remember that in the spring strong solar radiation and warm temperatures can weaken the snow in a matter of minutes.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.

Problems

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.