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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2023–Apr 2nd, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Renshaw, Robson.

Use extra caution below ridgetops, and in cross-loaded features. Watch for signs of instability like shooting cracks, or fresh avalanches. Wind slabs may slide easily where they sit on a frozen crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported before 4 pm on Saturday.

On Thursday, south of Valemount, several small (size 1.5) naturally triggered avalanches were reported on SE-SW aspects in the alpine. They occurred on slopes facing the sun during the warmest part of the day.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of soft snow sits over a thin crust on steep slopes facing the sun right up into the alpine. Snow that fell earlier in the week has been redistributed by northeast winds. On high, north-facing terrain, wind slabs may sit over facets and surface hoar.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong. There continues to be a weak layer of facets from November at the base of the snowpack. This layer remains a concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Light west or southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to valley bottom. Treeline low around -7°C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light northwest wind. Freezing level rising to 1100 m. Treeline high around -4°C

Monday

Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light northwest wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1000 m.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light variable wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.