Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Mar 31 – Apr 1, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Avalanche danger will increase with daytime heat.

Avoid being exposed to slopes that are in the sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Cornices are more likely to fail during warm periods.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Recently formed slabs could still be triggered by riders. They rest on weak layers on northerly aspects and a hard crust elsewhere. Deeper deposits could be found in lee terrain features near ridgetop.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wet loose activity on sun-exposed slopes is expected during the heat of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Sunday my the time of publishing.

On Monday, there were several small and large (size 2) skier accidental storm slab avalanches reported. Mostly in steep terrain on east to north aspects in the alpine.

North of Revelstoke there was also one large (size 3) persistent slab avalanche triggered by a helicopter landing at 2300 m on a northeast aspect.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 40 cm of recent snow will be seeing the sun for the first time and quickly becoming wet and losing strength, especially on steep slopes.

This snow sits on surface hoar crystals that overly soft or wind affect snow on northerly alpine terrain or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere.

Weak faceted grains above a hard crust that formed in early February is buried around 100 to 150 cm deep. The layer is strengthening and is currently dormant.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly clear skies. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Tuesday

Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to steep sun exposed slopes.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Regions covered