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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2023–Mar 27th, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Reverse loading from moderate northerly winds will develop small reactive wind slabs directly lee of ridges. Take note of the wind direction and anticipate slopes where wind slabs may exist.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches were reported in the past couple days.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 10 to 15 cm of new snow is being redistributed by moderate northeast winds. These new wind slabs sit over a crust on solar aspects and all aspects below 1500 m. On high north-facing terrain, these wind slabs sit over facets and surface hoar.

Check out this MIN from our field team.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of convective flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Moderate northwest winds and treeline temperatures of -7 °C.

Monday

Mostly clear with no new snow expected. Light northwest winds and a high of -4 °C at 1800 m.

Tuesday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. Light northwest winds and a high of -2 °C at 1800 m.

Wednesday

Increasing clouds with no new snow expected. Light variable winds and treeline temperatures of -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

Problems

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.