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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2023–Mar 29th, 2023

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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

The sun will be out and the freezing level is forecast to be higher than it has been in the past few days. As a result there may be an increase in wet loose avalanche activity on steep terrain facing the sun.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday there were several reports of loose wet avalanches running to size 1.5 in steep terrain facing the sun.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow accumulated over the last week overlies a crust on all terrain except north-facing slopes treeline and above. On these high northerly slopes, new snow may overlie facets and surface hoar to mountain tops.

The mid-pack is generally well-settled.

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

Tuesday Night

Mainly clear. Light east wind. High of -7 °C at treeline. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. High of 2 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 2000m.

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny breaks. Light northeast wind. High of 1 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1900m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Light southwest wind. High of -3 °C at treeline. Freezing level 1500m.

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.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.

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.