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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2022–Apr 24th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Check for good overnight re-freeze and make sure to be off slopes before they turn mushy or wet.

Confidence

High - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear, 10 km/h west wind, ridgetop low temperature -3 C, freezing level falling below 1600 m, possible inversion.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, 10-20 km/h southwest wind gusting to 30 km/h, ridgetop high temperature +8 C, freezing level rising to 2500 m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, accumulation trace to 5 cm, 20-40 km/h southwest wind, ridgetop high temperature +4 C, poor overnight re-freeze with freezing level hovering around 2300 m.

TUESDAY: Wet flurries, 10 cm. Light west wind, ridgetop high temperature +4 C, daytime freezing level rising above 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1) wet loose avalanches were observed around Kootenay Pass on Friday.

Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.

Snowpack Summary

Sun and warm temperatures have moistened the snow on most surfaces. The snowpack has transitioned to spring-time conditions, with moist snow and crusts on most slopes, and isolated and lingering winter-ish conditions at the highest shaded elevations. Overall the snowpack is strong, consisting of hard snow and various melt-freeze crusts. At ridge top, remember that cornices are large and looming.

Keep in mind that any snowpack can quickly loose strength when heat penetrates to deeper layers for the first time. Check for good overnight recovery - avoid slopes that do not get an overnight re-freeze. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

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.