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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2022–Apr 21st, 2022

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

Vancouver Island.

Moderate southerly winds have formed wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers on lee features at treeline and above.

 Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow. 

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night: Snow (rain below around 700 m); 10-20 cm / Moderate southeast wind / Low of -1 / Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday: Cloudy with isolated flurries (rain below around 1100 m); 0-5 cm / Light southeast wind / High of 6 / Freezing level 1400 m.

Friday: Mostly sunny / Light variable wind / High of 9 / Freezing level 1600 m.

Saturday: Sunny / Light south wind / High of 9 / Freezing level 1600 m.

Avalanche Summary

A natural storm slab avalanche cycle up to size 1.5 occurred on Monday. Reports suggest these avalanches were primarily in the alpine on northerly aspects loaded by the wind.

Check out the recent MIN report from our field team.

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

10-20 cm of new snow Wednesday night will add to the 20-35 cm of recent snow. Moderate southerly winds have formed wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers on lee features at treeline and above.

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, but they are unlikely to be a concern in most areas until the next significant warming event.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

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.