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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2022–Mar 27th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Avalanche problems will vary with weather conditions throughout the Inland. 

Watch for wet avalanche activity as rain, rising freezing levels or sun weakens the snowpack. High terrain in northern areas may see fresh wind slab development. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to rapidly fluctuating freezing levels. Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. 5-8 cm possible around the Duffy with 1500 m freezing levels. The Coquihalla and Allison Pass areas may see freezing levels up to 2000 m, but trace amounts of precipitation. Light to moderate southwesterlies. 

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, around 5 cm of snow again favouring the north with freezing levels around 2000 m. Southern freezing levels reach 2500 m, with a mix of sun and cloud possible. Moderate to strong southwest winds. 

MONDAY: Another 3-8 cm of snow over the day, mostly cloudy. Freezing levels return to 1500 m. Moderate southwest winds. 

TUESDAY: Mostly clear skies, light southerly winds. Freezing levels reach 2500 m throughout the region. 

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a cornice triggered wind slab size 1.5 was reported in an alpine feature. 

Warm temperatures, rain and sun on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday produced large wet avalanches on all aspects below the freezing line, and on steep sun affected slopes. Similar activity is expected throughout this weather system.

Snowpack Summary

Light snow will fall on a melt freeze crust that extends to treeline on all aspects to 2000-2500 m and on south facing slopes to mountain top. On shaded aspects new snow will sit over wind affected surfaces. 

Low elevations and southern terrain that may see periods of strong sunshine will likely hold moist snow.

A melt-freeze crust from mid March exists down 30 to 60 cm on all aspects below 1500 m. The mid and lower snowpack is thought to be well settled and strong at this time. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

Problems

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

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.