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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2026–Apr 18th, 2026

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

Regions

Cariboos, South Columbia, Blue River, Clearwater, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Gold, North Okanagan, Whatshan.

A hot sun and rising freezing levels will cause avalanche hazard to rise through the day and over the weekend.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, riders triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2. Several occurred on northerly aspects in the afternoon, possibly influenced by daytime warming encouraging loose snow to gain cohesion.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, ridgers triggered storm and wind slabs to size 2, many on northerly aspects and steep alpine slopes. On Wednesday, a size 3.5 avalanche failed naturally in the last 24 hours on a south aspect at 2300 m, likely triggered by solar input.

Snowpack Summary

At upper elevations, wind, sun, and spring temperatures continue to impact 20 to 40 cm of recent powder. Below the recent snow is a hard crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2500 m.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.