Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 27th, 2025–Apr 28th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Glacier.

If the surface crust is breaking down, it's time to turn around!

Check the winter permit status after 2AM for early opening, to help facilitate an early start.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet avalanches to size 2 were observed the past 2 days from steep, rocky, S-facing slopes in the alpine.

Neighboring operations have been observing solar triggered loose snow avalanches out of steep terrain this week, up to size 2. A few natural cornice failures have been observed up to size 2.5

Snowpack Summary

Spring conditions exist everywhere except high north alpine slopes, where settled powder can still be found.

Expect poor travel conditions below treeline. Height of snow at Rogers Pass (1305m) is ~50cm, and even shallower on solar slopes!

Weather Summary

A Pacific frontal system moves in Monday afternoon, exiting Tuesday evening.

Tonight Cloudy with clear periods. Alpine Low 0°C. Light East Ridge winds. Freezing Level (FZL) 800m. Alpine temperature inversion.

Mon Isolated flurries, 5cm. High 2°C. Wind SW 25-40 km/h. FZL 2300m.

Tues Isolated flurries, 4cm. High -2°C. Wind West20-35km/h. FZL 1900m

Wed Mix sun/ cloud. High 3°C. Light West wind. FZL 2500m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

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.

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.