Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2019–Apr 17th, 2019

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

A coastal storm has been making its way inland and forming fresh wind slabs along the way - especially in western parts of the region. Use this bulletin as a starting point and evaluate the depth and reactivity of new snow as you travel.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing 5-10 cm of new snow. Strong southwest winds.

Wednesday: Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing a trace to 10 cm of new snow, focused to the west and easing over the day and continuing overnight. Strong southwest winds shifting west and easing over the day. Alpine high temperatures around -3 with freezing levels to 1500 metres.

Thursday: Mainly cloudy. Storm snow totals of around 10-20 cm. Strong southwest winds easing over the day. Alpine high temperatures around -4 with freezing levels to 1400 metres.

Friday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1200 metres.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Monday included an observation of our recent snow reacting easily to skier traffic on south aspects, producing loose wet avalanches to size 1.5, particularly in areas with a thinner cover of new snow.

On Sunday natural wind slabs to size 1.5 were observed on northeast facing slopes between 1400 and 1800 m. A natural cornice failure produced a size 2.5 wind slab when it impacted the underlying slope.

On Saturday loose wet sluffing from gulley walls was reported below treeline. Avalanches were also heard, but not seen running from big unskiable terrain.

If you're out we'd love it if you would submit what you're seeing to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

A variable 5-20 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate by Wednesday afternoon, focused to the west of the region. The new snow will bury a new melt freeze crust that has formed at treeline and below as well as on slopes that saw sun exposure after Saturday's storm.  It will add to a wind-redistributed 10-30 cm of dry snow on high elevation north facing slopes.

As we enter into mid-April we're dealing with a classic warm snowpack. At and below treeline the snowpack is becoming isothermal. We're tracking the April 4th crust which is down 15 to 30 cm below the surface on high elevation north facing slopes. Surface hoar and facets have been observed on this crust and it has recently produced sudden planar results in snowpack tests.

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.