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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2023–Mar 14th, 2023

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

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Stormy conditions may continue to build new wind slabs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received reports of recent avalanche activity, although riders noted cracking of snow in wind-exposed terrain at alpine elevations.Looking forward, expect wind slabs to be touchy to human traffic in wind exposed terrain as strong wind and new snow continue to form new slabs.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow continues to accumulate, building on the 20 to 40 cm of snow that accumulated up until Monday afternoon. Strong northwest to southwest wind is blowing this snow into wind slabs in lee terrain features. This snow overlies previously wind affected snow at higher elevations and a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes. Reports suggest the snow is bonding well to these surfaces.

The middle and lower snowpack are well consolidated, containing numerous thick and hard melt-freeze crusts. We continue to track these layers but recent snowpack test results suggest that they aren't a concern.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with snowfall with periods of clearing, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -2 °C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 20 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.

Problems

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.