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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2023–Mar 27th, 2023

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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead.

Pay attention once the wind starts to blow, east winds and 15-30 cm of recent storm snow may form fresh, reactive wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations during the day on Monday.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, several natural loose dry avalanches, up to size 1, were reported at treeline and above. A skier accidental size 1.5 storm slab avalanche was reported on a steep, north aspect at 1500 m.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of recent snow and light to moderate southerly winds have formed small wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations.

These slabs overlie hard crusts on all sunny aspects and mixture of decomposing dry snow and possible small surface hoar in isolated locations on shady aspects.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

At the bottom of the snowpack, a layer of weak facets remains present and continues to be monitored for signs of reactivity.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Scattered clouds clear through the night. Light southeast ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a low of -8 C. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom.

Monday

Mainly sunny with a few convective clouds bringing isolated localized flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate east ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a high of -3 C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. Strong east ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a high of -2 C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday

Sunny. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a high of 0 C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.