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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2023–Mar 13th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Forecast snow and wind are expected to form large storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers at all elevations.

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Saturday.

Forecast snow and wind are expected to form large storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Forecast snow and wind are expected to form fresh storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers.

The storm slabs will be sitting on a variety of surfaces. These include surface hoar (3-10 mm) on shady slopes at all elevations, wind affected surfaces at treeline and above, and sun crust on sunny aspects.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story.

The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Snow; 5-15 cm / Moderate southwest ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline around -8 C / Freezing level valley bottom

Monday

Snow; 15-20 cm; another 5-10 cm overnight / Moderate southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -2 C / Freezing level 1100 m

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm / Light southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -4 C / Freezing level 1000 m

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1100 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.