Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 10th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
A heavy load of new snow is primed for human-triggering. More snow and wind intensifying through Monday will increase an already elevated avalanche hazard.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
A reactive snowpack Saturday around Whisler and Brandywine produced whumpfing and rider-triggered avalanches to size 1.5. A few rider-triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported late Sunday as this forecast went to publish.
A widespread avalanche cycle to size 2.5 occurred early Saturday around the Homathko area, with crowns depths to 150 cm and failing within treeline elevations on the early February crust interface.
Snowpack Summary
30 cm overnight snowfall on Sunday morning with another 30 cm snow through the day. Storm totals exceed 100 cm and cover a variety of surfaces including surface hoar. Strong south winds have and continue to strip snow from ridgelines and exposed features and deposit new snow into deep pockets in lee aspect terrain.
Below recent snow, 120-160 cm of older snow covers crust/facet or surface hoar layer. This layer continues to show sensitivity to human triggers, and is most concerning at treeline elevations where weak grains like facets and surface hoar are more easily preserved.
Weather Summary
Sunday night
Continued snowfall, 10-20 cm overnight, with 2-day accumulation exceeding 70 cm by Monday morning. Southwest ridgetop wind 25-30 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level near 700 m.
Monday
Flurries, 10 cm snow through the day with heavy snowfall intensifying Monday night. Southeast ridgetop wind 40-60 km/h. Treeline temperature - 3 °C. Freezing level around 900 m.
Tuesday
Snow, up to 20 cm by morning and another 10 cm through the day. Southwest ridgetop wind 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level near valley bottom.
Wednesday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm. Southwest ridgetop wind gusting 20-30 km/hr into strong. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Travel in alpine terrain is not recommended.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Avoid traveling in runout zones. Avalanches have the potential to run to the valley floor.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm snow totals have exceed 100 cm and winds have exceeded 100 km/hr. More snow and wind are forecast. Storm slabs are expected to produce natural avalanches and be reactive to human-triggers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Buried weak layers are most concerning at treeline elevations. Small avalanches may step down to this layer resulting in very large destructive avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 11th, 2024 4:00PM
