Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 8th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Cornices and Deep Persistent Slabs.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on a variety of aspects in the alpine.
Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A cornice triggered size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a northwest aspect in the alpine in the Duffey zone on Tuesday.
Additionally, there was a MIN report of a size 1 skier triggered loose dry avalanche in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating.
Sun crust on sunny aspects. Recent southeasterly winds formed wind slabs on numerous aspects at treeline and above. These slabs sit on a variety of surfaces including sun crusts, facets, and previous wind effect.
The mid-snowpack is well consolidated.
This is not the case for the lower snowpack. There is a widespread weak layer of large sugary facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity on this layer has been confined to northern parts of the region in the Chilcotins.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Clear skies / Light southeast ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline -11 C / Freezing level valley bottom.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -3 C / Freezing level 1100 m.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm / Moderate southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -4 C / Freezing level 900 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -2 C / Freezing level 1100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive on a variety of aspects in the alpine.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating. Cornice failures act as heavy triggers and can trigger large avalanches on slopes that a single rider would not trigger.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A layer of weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, unsupported, wind-loaded terrain in the northern part of the region around the Chilcotins, Birkenhead, and Hurley.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 9th, 2023 4:00PM
