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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2023–Mar 20th, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Use caution around freshly wind loaded pockets of dry snow at higher elevations. They will become increasingly reactive to human triggering as they build throughout the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches have been reported in areas that received strong sunshine and warm temperatures in the last few days. Check this MIN out for a great overview of recent conditions.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Mixed precipitation on Monday falls on a variety of surfaces including a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects at all elevations, dry snow on shaded aspects in the alpine and moist surfaces below treeline. Strong southeast winds may build deeper deposits of dry snow in the alpine.

The middle and lower snowpack are consolidated and strong, containing numerous thick and hard melt-freeze crusts.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with mixed precipitation. Rain changes to snow in the alpine during the night, 2-7 mm expected. Strong southeast winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels drop to 1200 m.

Monday

Cloudy with light flurries, 2-5 mm accumulation. Moderate southeast winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels 1200 m.

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy with clear sunny periods in the afternoon. Isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light east winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels 1100 m.

Wednesday

Mainly sunny. Light southeast winds at ridge top. Treeline temperature +2°C. Freezing levels 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy rain.

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.

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.