Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 28th, 2022

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, 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

Cariboos.

Continuously assess for changing conditions as you move through terrain. Winter like conditions could still be found at higher elevations.

Confidence

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Up to 5 cm of new snow expected. Light to moderate southerly winds. Freezing level falling to 1000 m with the possibility of a mild temperature inversion above.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected. Light southeast winds and freezing levels around 1800 m.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of new snow expected. Moderate west to southwest wind and freezing level around 1700 m.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1800 m.

Avalanche Summary

Only wet loose avalanches have been reported over the past few days. We suspect that small pockets of wind slab could be found in the alpine. When the freezing level rises or the sun comes out wet loose avalanches are likely.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Dry snow and pockets of wind slab can still be found in the alpine. The upper snowpack contains several crusts that extend up to mountain tops on solar aspects. Moist snow will likely be observed at lower elevations and on solar aspects if the sun comes out.

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy. The snowpack deteriorates rapidly at lower elevations.

Terrain and Travel

Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

Problems

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.

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.

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.