Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2024–Mar 6th, 2024

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

Avoid Avalanche Terrain.

Solar input will further weaken the snowpack. Be aware of overhead hazard, avalanches have run full path.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday a fatal avalanche incident occurred north of Revelstoke. The avalanche was a size 2 that caught and buried a snow biker on a northeast slope at 2000 m. The avalanche released on the early February crust. View the report.

Human triggered avalanches continue throughout the region. Some avalanches have run full path to valley bottom. Many human triggered avalanches have been remotely triggered.

Snowpack Summary

A crust could be found on steep south and west facing terrain and will likely become moist with solar input. Wind slab may be found on north and east facing slopes.

50 to 120 cm overlies a layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 80 to 160 cm deep and extends up to 2400 m. This crust may have a layer of facets above it. The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear. 15 to 25 km/h northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -15°C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 5 to 20 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -11°C.

Thursday

Sunny. 15 to 35 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -8°C.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of new snow expected. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avoid exposure to steep sun exposed slopes.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.