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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2022–Apr 28th, 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

Sea To Sky.

Watch for heightened avalanche conditions as you climb to elevations where recent snow has accumulated. 

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, no significant precipitation, light wind from the south, treeline temperatures drop to -7 C.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of snow above 1000 m, light wind from the south, treeline temperatures reach -5 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, isolated flurries with up to 5 cm of snow above 1200 m, light wind from the southwest, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, no precipitation, light wind, treeline temperatures around -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

Preliminary reports from Monday indicate there were several small (size 1) natural wind slab avalanches and a few small cornice falls. These wind slabs and cornices will be the main concern over the next few days.

Reports from the weekend include a few large cornice falls (such as the one in this MIN report near Brandywine that also triggered a very large slab avalanche in the steep terrain below), and a few small (size 1) human-triggered wind slab avalanches (such as the one in this MIN report on a north aspect east of Whistler).

Snowpack Summary

Winter conditions persist at treeline and above after Sunday night's storm delivered 15 to 30 cm of snow with strong south wind. We expect wind slabs from this storm to linger for a few days on steep lee slopes. This snow likely sits above dry snow on north-facing slopes above 2000 m, and then moist and crusty layers in all other areas. The lower snowpack should be strong under the current cool weather, but there are a few deeply buried crust layers to monitor once the weather shifts to warmer spring-like conditions.

Terrain and Travel

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you 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.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.