Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 8th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
Human triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported in the region. Stick to low consequence terrain. Check out our Forecaster's Blog on recent avalanche activity.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The number of reports continues to decrease, however, large rider, natural and explosives-triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported throughout the region. Some avalanches have run full path to the valley bottom. Many human-triggered avalanches have been remotely triggered (from a distance).
Last Sunday a fatal avalanche incident occurred north of Revelstoke. It was size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at 2000 m. View the report.
Snowpack Summary
A crust could be found on steep south and west-facing terrain at or just below the surface. Exposed terrain at higher elevations has been affected by recent wind blowing from a variety of directions.
50 to 120 cm overlies a variety of potential weak layers, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.
A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 80 to 160 cm deep and extends up to 2400 m. This crust may have a layer of weak facets above it.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of faceted grains above a crust buried 70 to 140 cm deep is a recipe for large, high-consequence avalanches. Remote triggering is an ongoing concern and means the layer is still primed for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Recent winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects. If triggered, wind slabs could step down to deeper layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 9th, 2024 4:00PM
