Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
isnowsell,
Avalanche Canada
Look for signs of instability and assess for wind slabs. Small avalanches on the surface have the potential to step down to weak layers deeper in the snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Recent storm snow was reactive to explosive control work, producing avalanches up to size 1.5 east of Kelowna on Saturday.
Numerous large to very large natural and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported in neighboring regions.
Snowpack Summary
A variety of surfaces can be found including a dusting of new snow, sun crust on south aspects, and wind effect in the alpine.
A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried roughly 40 to 70 cm deep. This crust may have a layer of facets above it. In neighboring regions, this layer has been producing many large and concerning avalanches over the past week.
The remaining snowpack below this crust is generally well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Wednesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °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.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may remain triggerable to riders. Assess for slabs in lee terrain features prior to committing.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets may exist above a hard melt-freeze crust that formed in early February.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2024 4:00PM
