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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 29th, 2024–Mar 1st, 2024

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Dangerous avalanche conditions continue. Natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely.

Stick to simple, non-avalanche terrain without exposure to overhead slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a remotely triggered size 2 avalanche was reported at 1200 m. The crown was 60-100 cm deep. Explosive control produced avalanches that terminated approx. 200 m above the road. Observation details are obscured due to limited visibility.

Remotely triggered persistent slab avalanches were reported up to size two in the region early this week. This is a clear sign the persistent weak layer is primed for human-triggering.

Avalanche danger remains high on Friday

Snowpack Summary

40 to 70 cm of storm snow overlies wind-affected surfaces and old wind slabs in exposed areas and settling snow in sheltered areas.

Multiple weak layers exist in the upper and mid snowpack. The most concerning weak layer is a widespread crust down 30 to 100 cm with a weak layer of facets or isolated surface hoar above this crust. This problematic layering is very concerning with recent large avalanche activity attributed to it. Although natural avalanche activity may taper out on this layer as the snow stops falling it will remain possible to human-trigger it for some time afterward.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with clear periods and snow 5 to 10 cm. Ridgetop wind 15 gusting to 65 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10°C. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Mostly light winds occasionally gusting to 60 km/hr. Treeline temperature -9°C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. 10 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Light southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. The freezing valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
  • Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.