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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 14th, 2021–Apr 15th, 2021

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Another day of sun and heat means another day of increasing hazard throughout the day. Avoid exposure to sun exposed slopes and cornices, especially in the afternoon.

Check out the latest Forecaster's Blog for more information on managing current conditions.

Confidence

Moderate - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure, with sunny skies and high freezing levels will dominate the weather pattern this week.

Wednesday night - Mainly clear / moderate northeast wind / alpine low temperature near 0 / freezing level 2000 m

Thursday - Sunny / moderate northeast wind / alpine high temperature near 3 / freezing level 2500 m 

Friday - Mainly sunny / light northeast wind / alpine high temperature near 4 / freezing level 2900 m 

Saturday - Mainly sunny / light west wind / alpine high temperature near 5 / freezing level 3000 m

Avalanche Summary

There were a few size 1-1.5 human triggered wind slab avalanches reported over the past week. Small natural dry loose avalanches were also reported in the Kootenay Pass area.

Looking forward, wet loose avalanches are expected on steep solar aspects with sunny weather and rising freezing levels. Cornice failures will also become more likely. Wind slabs may remain reactive in leeward terrain features at upper elevations.

Snowpack Summary

A crust exists on the surface on solar aspects, and on all aspects up to about 1800 m. Dry snow can still be found on north aspects at higher elevations. Sunshine and rising freezing levels are expected to soften the surface crust during the day. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.