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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 17th, 2024–Mar 18th, 2024
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.

Conservative decision-making is essential following a period of intense warming.

A buried weak layer in the snowpack could produce very large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous very large persistent slab avalanches continued to fail naturally and be triggered remotely throughout the region on Saturday. Pinwheeling and loose wet activity also occurred.

Check out this MIN from the backcountry near Shames.

Snowpack Summary

Expect a surface crust at most elevations. Where the snow still feels wet, or like a slushie, avalanches are more likely to still occur.

Several persistent weak layers are buried between 90 and 180 cm deep, including hard crusts with overlying weak facets and surface hoar. These weak layers have produced avalanche activity during the last week.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Increasing cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level drops to 1000 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of +3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of +3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain as temperatures increase.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • Very large and destructive avalanches could reach valley bottom.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slab avalanches are still possible after the period of warming. Continue with conservative terrain choices, and assess the snow for instability caused by warming and sun.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Loose Wet

Warm temperatures and the effect of the sun may trigger loose wet avalanches. The more the snow feels like a slushie, the more likely these avalanches.

These may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger-than-expected avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2