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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2024–Mar 17th, 2024

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

⚠️ Avoid all avalanche terrain ⚠️Elevated temperatures in the alpine and solar input will result in a widespread natural avalanche cycle.

Check out our latest blog for more information.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle was observed throughout the region with numerous size 3 avalanches on slopes that saw full sun. Cornice failure, solar input and/or warm temperatures were the triggers for these avalanches.

Widespread natural avalanche activity will continue over the next few days. Avoid all avalanche terrain and exposure from overhead hazards as avalanches could run full path.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow surfaces extend into the alpine on all aspects. The exception may be the high, shaded north-facing terrain where the surface remained dry.

40 to 80 cm of settling snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected surfaces.

Two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 70 to 130 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.

The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear skies. 20 increasing to 40 km/h southerly ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature remains around +7°C. Freezing level between 3200 and 3500 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. Alpine temperature high +5°C, low +1°C. Freezing level drops through the day from 3500 to 2800 m.

Monday

Mainly sunny. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures high of +2°C. Freezing level drops to 2500 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures high of +1°C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
  • Cornices may release remotely when approached.
  • Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid lingering or regrouping in runout zones.

Problems

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.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.