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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2023–Mar 23rd, 2023

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie.

Avalanche conditions are generally safe. A few things to keep in mind as you travel are the potential for isolated cornice failures and small wet loose avalanches on sun-exposed slopes.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A naturally triggered size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a west aspect at treeline on Monday.

Several naturally triggered size 1-1.5 wet loose avalanches were reported on sunny aspects at upper elevations.

A large (size 2.5) rider-triggered wind slab was reported on a north aspect in the alpine on Friday. The avalanche was triggered from the ridge top and the reported weak layer was surface hoar. See MIN.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface includes a crust on solar aspects, surface hoar up to 10 mm in shady and wind-sheltered areas, faceting snow on polar aspects, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.

30-50 cm down there is a sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-5 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes.

Another layer of surface hoar or sun crust, aspect dependent, that was formed in mid-February can be found down 80 to 110 cm.

The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary facets near the ground. These facets are slowly gaining strength and no recent avalanches have been reported on this layer. However, we continue to track the layer and watch for any signs of it becoming active.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Clear. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -5 °C. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom. Alpine temperature inversion.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with flurries, up to 10 cm accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1800 metres.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -2 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 35 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1300 metres.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -7 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1100 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.

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.