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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 15th, 2022–Apr 16th, 2022

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Conditions are generally safe, but there are still isolated hazards from cornices and pocket wind slabs. Check out the newest forecaster blog as you plan your spring objectives. 

Confidence

Moderate - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly starry sky, light and variable wind, treeline temperatures dropping to -15 C.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind, freezing level rising to 1400 m, treeline temperatures warm to -2 C.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind, freezing level rising to 1500 m, treeline temperatures warm to -1 C.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud and incoming flurries, increasing southeast wind, freezing level rising above 1600 m, treeline temperatures above freezing.

Avalanche Summary

Reports over the last week documented large cornice falls in alpine terrain, some of which have triggered large wind slab avalanches (size 2-2.5) on the slopes below. We suspect the reactivity of these wind slabs is diminishing under the current weather pattern, but cornices remain a concern.

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind from the northeast formed slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above, and a variety of wind-affected surfaces. 20-50 cm recent snow sits on a melt-freeze crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2000 m. A sun crust likely extends to mountain tops on solar aspects. Another prominent crust layer is found 40 to 70 cm deep. 

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Problems

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.