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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2022–Mar 4th, 2022

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Watch for unstable snow in steep wind-affected terrain and sun-exposed slopes. 

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies, light wind from the north, treeline temperatures drop to -8 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the north, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the northwest, treeline temperatures around -8 C.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the northwest, treeline temperatures around -5 C.

Avalanche Summary

Observations have been limited over the past week, but there have been enough reports to suggest a storm slab avalanche cycle occurred during the stormy weather at the start of the week. Since then, a few small (size 1) slab avalanches in the top 25 cm of snow have been triggered by ski cutting and there have been some small dry loose avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has likely settled into 10 to 30 cm of heavy powder at upper elevations and moist/crusty snow below 1500 m. It sits above a variety of hard layers, including wind-affected snow on alpine slopes and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, and possibly some feathery surface hoar in sheltered terrain. The lower snowpack is generally well settled, with prominent crust layers 50 to 100 cm deep. While there have been some snowpack test results on weak snow around these crusts in the Blue River and Valemount areas, we do not expect avalanches on these layers under the current conditions.

Terrain and Travel

  • If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Problems

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.