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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2022–Apr 21st, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos.

 Carefully assess steep lines for wind slab and limit exposure to slopes with cornices above. Please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report if you are recreating in the backcountry. 

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night: No new snow expected. Light southeast winds and a low of -10 at 2000 m.

THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southeast winds and freezing levels rising to 1800 m.

Friday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Light west wind and freezing level around 2000 m.

Saturday: Sunny with no new snow expeccted. Light westerly winds and freezing levels rising to 2200 m.

Avalanche Summary

Only one size two natural avalanche on a steep face has been reported in the past few days. If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

We suspect that small pockets of wind slab could be found in the alpine. As the sun comes out small wet loose avalanches are possible.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of recent storm snow overlies old wind effected surfaces and a crust on solar aspects. Below this another melt-freeze crust can be found down up to 40 cm on all aspects to 2000 m and mountain tops on solar aspects. Moist snow will likely be observed on solar aspects as the sun comes out.

The late March crust layer is found 40-70 cm deep.

Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy. The snowpack deteriorates rapidly at lower elevations.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.

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.

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.