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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2025–Apr 17th, 2025

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

Regions

Cariboos, North Rockies, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

Avalanche activity is more likely as sun and rising temperatures affect the snowpack.

Minimize your exposure to cornices, and steep south facing slopes in the heat of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, natural wind slabs were reported from north and east facing alpine slopes. Several were cornice triggered, stepping down to buried weak layers.

Small loose wet avalanches continue on steep south-facing slopes in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find dry snow on high north-facing slopes, crusty or moist snow at lower elevations and on sun affected slopes, and firm, wind-affected snow in exposed terrain.

The mid to lower snowpack remains generally well-settled and strong, with old weak layers now buried 50 to 200 cm deep. Large triggers, such as cornice collapses still have the potential to trigger these deeper layers, particularly on high, shaded north aspects.

Below treeline slopes are melting fast and generally below threshold for avalanche activity. Watch for stumps, rocks and open creeks.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear skies. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level drops to 500 m.

Thursday

Clear skies. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rises to -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Friday

Increasing cloud. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rises to +6 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Saturday

Increasing cloud. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.

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.