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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2024–Apr 2nd, 2024

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Pay attention to changing conditions. Fresh, reactive wind slabs are expected to form at upper elevations as temperatures drop and new snow accumulates.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, numerous wet loose avalanches occurred in steep, sun-exposed terrain as a result of strong sun and warm temperatures.

Conditions will change on Tuesday as strong winds and new snow impact the region. Watch for fresh, reactive wind slabs forming in leeward terrain features in the alpine and treeline.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accumulates on moist snow or a crust that exists on all aspects and elevations except high north-facing terrain.

The facet/crust layer that produced large avalanches during early March is buried 80-150 cm deep. While no recent avalanche activity has been observed on this layer, it continues to produce concerning snowpack test results. It has become a low-probability, high-consequence problem on north-facing slopes above 2000 m.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with periods of light precipitation. Ridgetop winds southwest 20 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with rain turning to snow, 10 to 25 cm of accumulation. Ridgetop winds 40 to 70 km/h from the southwest. Treeline temperature drops to -2 °C. Freezing level drops to 1400 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with flurries, up to 10 cm accumulation. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperature rising to 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Use caution on large alpine slopes, especially around thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilities.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.