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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2024–Mar 20th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

A widespread surface crust makes for generally safe conditions. Scale back your terrain choice as the surface snow deteriorates and weakens with daytime warming and sunny conditions.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Natural wet loose avalanche activity continues to be reported, primarily below treeline and on steep south-facing terrain.

The widespread, natural avalanche cycle reported over the weekend appears to have ended.

Snowpack Summary

A widespread melt-freeze crust exists on the surface. Expect the crust to deteriorate, and weaken at lower elevations and on south-facing slopes throughout the day.

Various weak layers, including crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar exist approximately 90 and 180 cm below the surface.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h east ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday

Mostly sunny. 0 to 20 km/h east ridegtop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

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.