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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2022–Apr 24th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast.

Lingering wind slabs formed by 20-30 cm of recent snow may remain reactive on lee features in the alpine.

 Avoid exposure to steep sun exposed slopes. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Mostly clear / Light south wind / Low of 3 / Freezing level 1700 m.

Sunday: Increasing cloudiness, then 10-20 cm snow overnight (rain below around 1300 m) / Moderate southeast wind / High of 11 / Freezing level 1800 m.

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries/showers; 3-10 cm / Moderate southwest wind / High of 8 / Freezing level 1400 m.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries/showers; 0-5 cm / Light south wind / High of 6 / Freezing level 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

A skier was caught in a size 2 wind slab that was triggered by a small wet loose avalanche on Friday. It occurred on a northerly aspect in the alpine. See MIN report.

We currently have very limited avalanche observation data from this region.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Photos of current conditions and avalanches are the most helpful. 

Snowpack Summary

Lingering wind slabs formed by 20-30 cm of recent snow may remain reactive on lee features in the alpine.

The recent snow is sitting on a variety of hard snow surfaces, including crusts and wind scoured snow. 

Below this, there are several crusts in the upper snowpack. In areas where there are weak facets sitting on top of the crusts, there is potential for large natural slab avalanches when freezing levels reach mountain tops for multiple days.

Avoid large slopes and avalanche paths during periods of intense warming.

Cornices are large and more prone to failure during periods of intense warming.

Terrain and Travel

  • 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.
  • Avoid exposure to steep sun exposed slopes.
  • 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.