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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 7th, 2023–Mar 8th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.

Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.

Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A skier triggered size 1 wind slab was reported on a northeast aspect in the alpine near Mt. Currie on Monday.

Several people were caught in wind slab avalanches in the Duffey Lake area on Saturday. They occurred on southerly aspects at treeline. MIN 1. MIN 2.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating.

Sun crust on sunny aspects. Southeasterly winds formed wind slabs on numerous aspects at treeline and above. These slabs sit on a variety of surfaces including sun crusts, facets, and previous wind effect.

The mid-snowpack is well consolidated. This is not the case for the lower snowpack. There is a widespread weak layer of large sugary facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity on this layer has been confined to northern parts of the region in the Chilcotins.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear skies / Light south ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline -12 C / Freezing level valley bottom.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -1 C / Freezing level 1300 m.

Thursday

Sunny / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -2 C / Freezing level 1100 m.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -4 C / Freezing level 800 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.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may remain reactive on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South West, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Cornices

Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating. Cornice failures act as heavy triggers and can trigger large avalanches on slopes that a single rider would not trigger.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

A layer of weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, unsupported, wind-loaded terrain in the northern part of the region around the Chilcotins, Birkenhead, and Hurley.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5