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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2021–Apr 2nd, 2021

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

North Columbia.

High elevation north aspects are still offering good skiing and riding conditions, but this is likely where you'll find some overlap with wind slab distribution. Analyze slopes for wind loading patterns and seek out more sheltered, low density snow.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow. Moderate southwest winds.

Friday: Mainly cloudy with continuing isolated flurries, continuing overnight. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1600 metres.

Saturday: Cloudy with continuing isolated flurries, increasing overnight. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -3 with freezing levels to 1700 metres.

Sunday: Clearing over the day with 10-15 cm of new snow from the overnight period. Light west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Wednesday included several size 1 (small) skier triggered slabs on south aspects observed running stubbornly on a recent crust layer. One recent natural size 2 cornice failure was also noted, as well as fairly widespread natural wet loose activity (to size 1) on steep solar aspects.

A natural avalanche cycle was occurred during the weekend storm, with widespread size 3-3.5 avalanches in the Selkirks and more limited activity in the Monashees to size 2, a few of them cornice-triggered. Storm slabs remained reactive to ski cuts on Monday, mostly around size 1 with a couple of skier remotes size 1-2 in the east of the region.

By Tuesday, storm slabs were showing signs of becoming more stubborn, showing limited propagation with a few explosive control results around size 2. A skier triggered size 2.5 involvement in neighboring Glacier National Park resulted in lost gear and minor injuries.

Snowpack Summary

Light accumulations of new snow have added to wind affected surfaces in alpine areas and to settled dry snow on more sheltered, shaded aspects above about 2000 metres. Below this elevation and on solar aspects it buries crusty surfaces. Below about 1500 metres, surface conditions of the diminishing snowpack will vary according to alternating light rain, wet flurries, and overnight refreezes.

At alpine and treeline elevations, a widespread crust exists (except on north-facing slopes above 1800 m) buried 50-100 cm deep. Overall the snow seems to be bonding well at this interface, although there have been a few isolated avalanches running on deeper crust layers over the past few weeks.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.

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.