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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 22nd, 2022–Apr 23rd, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Columbia.

Carefully monitor the change in snowpack conditions as you gain elevation and change aspects. Conditions will vary from one slope to another.

Confidence

Moderate - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Light flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow with light northwest winds. Low of -5 at 2000 m.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with no new snow expected. Light northwest winds shifting to west in the afternoon and freezing levels rising to 2200 m.

Sunday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Light to moderate south winds and freezing levels rising to 2300 m.

Monday: 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected at higher elevations with moderate south wind. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday several skier triggered storm slab avalanches to size two were observed in the region. These avalanches were generally at upper treeline or alpine. Small wet loose avalanches were also observed on solar aspects.

We suspect that wind slab will remain reactive to rider traffic in the alpine. Wet loose avalanches will likely occur on all aspects and elevations except high north facing terrain.

Snowpack Summary

On northerly aspects above 2000 m, around 20 cm of new snow overlies a variety of surfaces including old wind effect and facets. The upper snowpack contains several crusts that extend to mountain tops on solar aspects.Moist snow will likely be observed on solar aspects and lower elevation terrain.

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

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • 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.

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.