Bulletin d’avalanche

North Columbia

Apr 17 – 18, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Archivé · expiré last year

Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Sun
Alpin
3 · Marqué
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Points saillants

Choose conservative terrain as high temperatures and strong sunshine will weaken the snowpack.

Avoid overhead exposure to cornices, particularly on north facing alpine slopes.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Recent winds have varied, watch for reactive wind slabs on all aspects. Strong northerly winds will load south facing slopes.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible - Likely
    Taille
    2–3.5

    Surface hoar has produced large and remotely triggered avalanches, primarily on sheltered, north-facing alpine slopes in the Selkirks. Reactivity will increase during warming and cornice falls may trigger these layers.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    1–2

    Rising temperatures and strong sunshine will increase potential for wet avalanches. Warming will be most intense on steep south facing slopes, especially near rocks.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, wind slab avalanches were observed on freshly wind affected slopes, and wet loose avalanches occurred at lower elevations.

Size 2–3 persistent slab avalanches have been reported this week in the Selkirks, triggered naturally (including cornice falls) and remotely, mainly on north-facing alpine terrain.

With rapid warming expected, avalanche activity is likely to increase.

Snowpack Summary

Dry snow lingers over crust on high north-facing slopes. Wind affected surfaces exist elsewhere at high elevations, from variable winds throughout the region. South facing slopes and lower elevations will become moist from sun and warm temperatures.

Surface hoar buried 30–70 cm deep has been reactive this week in the Selkirks, mainly on sheltered north-facing slopes between 2200–2600 m.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally strong, but older weak layers 100–250 cm deep could still be triggered by large loads like cornice falls, especially on high, north facing slopes.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level drops to 500 m.

Friday

Clear skies. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures rise to +8 °C. Freezing level rises to 3000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow above 2000 m, isolated areas may see higher amounts north of Revelstoke. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels around 2000 m, treeline temperatures around -1 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. Light and variable winds. Freezing levels around 1900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Régions couvertes