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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2022–Mar 30th, 2022

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

A skiff of new snow may not be enough to float us over the firm surface underneath. Prepare for challenging travel conditions, and watch for loose wet and windslab avalanche hazard on isolated terrain. 

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Light snow/rain expected, but up to 8cm at high elevations around Squamish. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop winds. Freezing level falls to around 1000 m. 

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Light snow/rain expected, up to 5 cm at high elevations around Squamish. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1250 m. 

THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. Very light snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to around 750 m overnight, back up to 1400 m through the day.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate snow/rain expected. Freezing level falling to around 750 m overnight, back up to 1400 m through the day.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, small, loose wet avalanches were reported in steep rocky terrain. Explosive avalanche control produced a few small to large cornice avalanches. 

On Monday in the Whistler area, explosive avalanche control produced cornice avalanches up to size 2.5, and a few small storm slab avalanches in the alpine. Small loose wet avalanche activity continued with warming and rider traffic.

Snowpack Summary

Around 5 cm of new snow falling with moderate southwest wind may form small, reactive windslabs on old, firm surfaces. With freezing levels falling to 1000m, a frozen crust is expected on all aspects into the alpine. On the highest peaks, above 2200 m, cold, winter snow may be found in shaded alpine terrain, with a sun crust on south facing slopes.

The rest of the upper snowpack consists of a number of crust/facet/surface hoar interfaces buried in March that seem to have bonded during the recent warm weather. 

The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well bonded. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • 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.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.

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.