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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 22nd, 2024–Apr 23rd, 2024

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Shuswap, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, North Okanagan.

Watch for wind loaded pockets in leeward alpine features and back off sun exposed slopes during the heat of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A couple of small (size 1) natural and skier triggered wind slab avalanches were reported in the alpine on the weekend.

Last week, cornice failures were notably not propagating any weak layers on slopes below but there was one report of a remotely skier-triggered size 2 failing on moist snow below a recently buried crust.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of recent snow in the alpine is settling rapidly in mild temperatures, with surfaces becoming moist on sunny aspects and lower elevations. The recent snow sits over a widespread melt-freeze crust on all but high north-facing alpine terrain, where snow is dry and likely wind affected.

Weather Summary

Monday night

Clear. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 600 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level 2500m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy flurries in the afternoon bringing a trace. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with a trace of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.