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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2021–Mar 27th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

North Columbia.

Human triggered avalanches are possible. Watch for changing snow conditions when you gain elevation and transition into open wind affected terrain. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Scattered flurries with up to 5 cm of snow, 30-40 km/h west wind, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries and up to 5 cm of snow, 40-50 km/h southwest wind, freezing level up to 1600 m, treeline temperatures around -3 C.

SUNDAY: Flurries with 10-20 cm of snow, 40-60 km/h southwest wind, freezing level up to 1500 m, treeline temperatures around -4 C.

MONDAY: Another 5-10 cm of snow by the morning then mostly cloudy during the day, 30 km/h northwest wind, freezing level drops to valley bottom and treeline temperatures drop to -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has primarily been small (size 1-1.5) wind slab and dry loose avalanches in the top 20 cm of snow. A few larger slab 2 avalanches have been observed in steep slide paths in Glacier NP over the past few days. One notable size 3 slab avalanche was observed northeast of Revelstoke on Wednesday. The avalanche failed on the ground on a south aspect at 1600 m. While an isolated event, it is a good reminder to watch for slopes warming up in the springtime heat.

On Saturday there will be a lingering possibility to trigger storm slab, wind slab, and dry loose avalanches in the upper snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

At alpine and treeline elevations 10-20 cm of fresh snow brings totals over the last week to 40-60 cm. This sits above an interface that formed during the mid-March dry spell, which consists of a widespread crust (except on north-facing slopes above 1800 m). Overall the snow seems to be bonding well to this interface, although there have been some isolated human triggered avalanches running on the crust layer over the past few days.

Lower elevations have undergone daily melt-freeze cycles, with moist or crusty surfaces likely found up to at least 1600 m.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with open slopes and convex rolls, especially in more extreme terrain.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.