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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 22nd, 2023–Apr 23rd, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, Kootenay Boundary, Clearwater, Quesnel, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Expect spring conditions at elevations up to around treeline,and solar aspects well into the alpine. Warm temperatures melt the strength right out of the snowpack so avoid avalanche terrain in these areas when it's hot and sunny, late in the day, or if there isn't an overnight freeze. The highest peaks may receive enough snow to create new storm slab or wind slab problems.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The latest avalanche observations are summarized in this MIN near Nelson. We haven't received other reports of avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Generally, spring is advancing and the winter snowpack is melting away, at least at lower elevations.

Dry, powder snow may remain at the highest elevations on north-facing terrain, along with the potential for fresh wind and storm slabs. While melt-freeze crusts or moist snow are likely to be found on steep solar slopes and at lower elevations.

Avalanche danger will be closely coupled to daytime warming and melting. The more the crust weakens, and the deeper the wetness goes, the greater the hazard from wet loose avalanches.

The mid- and lower-snowpack is generally well-settled. In some areas, the lower snowpack may have a layer of weak facets near the ground.

Weather Summary

Saturday Overnight

Cloudy with flurries but only a trace of new snow. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around freezing. Freezing level around 1500 to 1900 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with snow. Accumulations by the end of the day around 5 cm but as much as 10 cm at high elevations in deep snow areas. Moderate southwest winds. Treeline temperatures around zero and freezing level around 2200 m.

Monday

Warm overnight temperatures with freezing level only dropping to 1500m. Overnight, at high elevations, another 5 cm (maybe as much as 10 cm) of snow by Monday morning and a trace to 5 cm during the day. Wind diminishing to light. Treeline temperatures around -3 and freezing level around 2000 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Nil precipitation. Wind light southwest. Around zero at treeline with freezing level around 2300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Rain or periods of intense solar radiation can rapidly enhance the effects of warming.
  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.

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.

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.