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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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

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

Check out our latest blog about the forecasted warming

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, numerous natural, size 3 avalanches were observed on slopes that saw direct sun across the region. Cornice failure, solar input and warm temperatures triggered these avalanches. A few suspected machine remote avalanches were observed southeast of Revelstoke, see photo for details.

Widespread natural avalanche activity will continue over the next few days. Avoid 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 60 cm of recent snow is settling rapidly over sun crusts and wind-affected surfaces.

Below this, 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 hard widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it and continues to be reactive.

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

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear skies. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature remains around +7°C. Freezing level between 3200 and 3500 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature high 6+°C, low +3°C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Monday

Sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures high of +5°C. Freezing level between 2800 and 3200 m.

Tuesday

Mainly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures high of +2°C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid lingering or regrouping in runout zones.
  • Cornices may release remotely when approached.

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.