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, 2022–Apr 17th, 2022

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Danger ratings are low, but always be on the lookout for wind slabs at higher elevations and weak overhanging cornices.

Watch for strong sunshine creating wet surface snow on south facing terrain features. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack. Uncertainty is due to the fact that cornice falls are particularly difficult to forecast.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with light southeasterly winds. 2-10 cm of snow expected. Freezing levels drop to 500 m. 

SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with moderate southeasterly winds. Freezing levels rise to 1500 m. Isolated flurries are expected to bring trace amounts. 

MONDAY: Snow begins early in the morning with 10-15 cm expected, freezing levels reach 1400 m. Strong southeast winds. Snow continues overnight, 10-20 cm expected.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with continued light snowfall bringing up to 5 cm over the day. Freezing levels reach 1300 m. Moderate to strong southerly winds. 

Avalanche Summary

On Friday size 2.5 natural slab avalanche was reported on a northeast aspect. This occurred in a steep cross-loaded terrain feature and was possibly triggered by strong sunshine. Small wind slabs were also rider triggered on Friday in wind affected terrain. 

Several cornice falls have been observed over the last week, affected by brief periods of strong sunshine. On Thursday, a cornice fall produced a size 3 slab avalanche on a northeast slope. This avalanche failed on a deep weak layer within the snowpack, which is considered unlikely to occur from human or natural triggers at this time - except for large cornice falls. 

Sunshine also triggered small wet avalanches throughout the week, on steep south facing features. 

Snowpack Summary

Spring convection has delivered highly variable amounts of storm snow above a melt freeze crust found on sun affected slopes. Periods of sun may soften or break down the crust throughout the day where it exists on the surface. Wind affected snow can be found mainly on west facing slopes at treeline and above, from recent easterly winds. However local wind patterns may have varied.

A widespread and supportive crust is buried 10-40 cm deep. Reports suggest this crust is currently bonding well with the layers around it. 

Various melt-freeze crusts exist in the upper to middle snowpack, which reports suggest are bonding well. The lower snowpack is considered strong and well settled at this time. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet

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.

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.