Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 3rd, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
rgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Expect to find reactive storm slabs and use caution in wind-loaded terrain.
Seek out low-angled terrain away from the wind until the snow has time to settle.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several storm slab and wind slab avalanches, up to size two, were reported on Thursday. These were triggered naturally, accidentally, and with explosives. One was even triggered remotely.
Expect to find more of the same this weekend if you venture into the backcountry.
For a deeper dive into conditions, check out this awesome South Coast Conditions report posted by Zenith Guides.
Snowpack Summary
By Saturday morning 50 to 80 cm of snow will have accumulated since last weekend. Southerly winds have accompanied this snow so expect to find thick loaded features in exposed terrain and in the lee of features. In some areas, this new snow has bonded poorly to the underlying surface consisting of stiff wind slabs and facets formed by last week's wind and cold temperatures.
Deeper in the snowpack 60 to 180 cm down exists two crusts with facets sitting above them. They can be found in alpine and treeline elevation bands. If triggered these layers could produce massive avalanches.
The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with some clear periods, 5 to 10 cm accumulation, winds southeast 20 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures around -9 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds northeast 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C, and freezing level reaching 1000 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with some sunny breaks, 5 cm accumulation, winds east 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -6 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds southeast 15 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Expect reactive storm slabs and wind slabs in exposed areas. A poor bond may exist to the underlying old snow surface and reactivity may persist for longer than is typical.
As the wind continues to do its work, watch out for building wind slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Two weak layers consisting of a crust with small facets above it are buried between 60 and 90 cm deep. If triggered, these layers could produce large destructive avalanches. They would need a heavy load to trigger them, such as a cornice fall, or by first triggering a smaller avalanche that could step down to this interface. This problem seems to be more of an issue west of the Sea to Sky highway corridor.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 4th, 2023 4:00PM
