Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2023–Mar 5th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Best to give the storm snow a little bit longer to settle.

Make conservative terrain choices as you seek out great riding.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

This past week's storm snow has produced many storm slab, wind slab, and dry loose avalanches. These have reached up to size two. Due to the fact that this snow was of such low density when it fell, the snow pack will take a little bit longer than normal to settle and consolidate.

Check out yesterday's North Shore Snowpack Update for a picture of the unusual snowpack setup leading into last weekend's storm.

Snowpack Summary

Storms this past week brought us 100 to 130 cm. This snow was mostly dry and cold. Warming temperatures have increased the consolidation of the upper snowpack and may promote slab development. If the sun pokes out, it could do the same since it is starting to pack a punch this time of year.

This recent snow sits on a layer of concern made up of a crust with facets. It appears to be gaining strength, but this is a layer to watch out for.

The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.

Snowpack depths are over 300 cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 25 to 40 km/h, freezing level climbing to 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with late day sunny breaks, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 15 to 30 km/h, freezing level to 700 to 1000 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny, trace accumulation, winds southeast 25 km/h, freezing level climbing to 1000 m by end of the day.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds southerly 10 °C gusting to 40, freezing level 500 to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Storms slabs have been reactive at all elevations.
Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.