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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2024–Mar 14th, 2024

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

Regions

Clearwater, South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Watch for changing conditions through the day.

Intense spring sun and rising temperatures are making avalanches more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, avalanche or snowpack observations, or even just a photo or two.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions include sun crusts on south facing slopes, wind-affected snow in exposed areas at higher elevations, and small amounts of settling snow in sheltered terrain. With sunny skies and rising freezing levels, expect to see more moist or wet snow on the surface as the day goes on.

A widespread crust is buried 40-90 cm deep, in some areas a weak layer of facets can be found above. However recent tests suggest this layer is gaining strength and avalanche activity is currently unlikely. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on this layer in this region.

The snowpack below this crust is strong and well bonded.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear. Light west or northwest ridgetop wind shifting to light west in the afternoon. Freezing level falling to 1300 m, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Thursday

Sunny. Light west ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 2000 m, treeline high around 2 °C.

Friday

Sunny. Light to moderate northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rises to 2500 m overnight, 3000 m during the day. treeline high around 5 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. Freezing level rises to 3300 m. Light southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Problems

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.

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.