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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2019–Apr 10th, 2019

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Flurries will accumulate through the day and may hide recently formed slabs. Use caution around ridge crests and lee terrain features, where the most reactive deposits may be found.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy / west wind, 15-30 km/h / alpine low temperature -6 C / freezing level 1000 mWEDNESDAY: Flurries, 5-10 cm snow / southwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1400 mTHURSDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods and early morning flurries, trace to 5 cm / northeast wind, 15-35 km/h / alpine high temperature -2 C / freezing level 1500 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / west-southwest wind 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature -2 C / freezing level 1700 m

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, natural storm slab avalanches to size 2 were observed on north to northeast aspects around 2200-2400 m in the Whistler Backcountry, initiating from steep, lee start zones. 2 separate groups of skiers in the Whistler Backcountry triggered slab avalanches (size 1.5-2) on north-northeast aspects in the alpine, including this Decker Main MIN report here. On Sunday, avalanche control work with explosives triggered mostly small storm slabs (size 1-1.5) and cornices in alpine and treeline; these avalanches failed on the storm snow - melt-freeze crust interface.On Saturday, small (size 1-1.5) storm slabs and wind slabs were reactive to skier traffic. Cornices were reactive to explosives and triggered large (size 2) slab avalanches as they fell on the slopes below.

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 cm wind and temperature affected snow covers a melt-freeze crust on most slopes and dry, settled snow on north-facing and sheltered alpine terrain.Expect a snowpack that changes with elevation and through the day, between 1800 and 1200 m sun and warm temperatures through the day are producing a moist snowpack. Below, 1200 m the snow is melting rapidly.With spring conditions, the avalanche hazard will fluctuate greatly depending on the strength of the overnight freeze and how quickly the snowpack is warmed up each day.

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.

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.