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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2022–Apr 2nd, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Expect avalanche hazard to rise as strong wind and new snow form fresh slabs.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Stormy with 5-10 cm of new snow expected overnight; note highest snowfall amounts forecast along the coast and quickly taper eastward. Moderate to strong southwest winds with freezing levels dropping below 600 m.

Saturday: Stormy, 5-15 cm snow expected through the day, and highest snowfall amounts forecast along the coast and quickly taper eastward. Increasingly strong south winds. Freezing level around 1100 m.

Sunday: Stormy, 10-25 cm forecast for Sunday morning. Southwest winds peaking overnight and decreasing to moderate by the end of the day. Freezing level below 1000 m.

Monday: Flurries, 5-10 cm expected by morning. Moderate southeasterly wind. High of -4 at 1100 m. Freezing level below 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, wind slabs to size 1.5 were reactive to skiers, reported on northerly aspects with crown depths 15-40 cm. On Wednesday, explosives in the north of the region triggered storm slabs to size 2.

Earlier in the week natural cornice falls and wet loose avalanches were observed throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

Accumulating snowfall and strong winds will develop slabs through the weekend. Below the new snow, a crust can be found on all aspects and elevations except high elevation north-facing terrain. In the north of the region, small surface hoar may be found above this crust. With warm, spring storms, expect snowfall accumulations to decrease with elevation and transition to moist snow or rain below tree line.

A weak layer of surface hoar from mid-March buried 70-120 cm deep can still be found but is considered dormant around the Terrace area. However, in the far north of the region, it produced large avalanches as recently as Sunday.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.