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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2023–Mar 16th, 2023

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

Regions

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

The March sun packs a punch and can quickly destabilize the snowpack. Storm slabs may continue to be reactive to human triggering, especially on wind-loaded northeast slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a few human-triggered storm and wind slab avalanches were reported up to size 2. Natural cornice failures and dry loose avalanches were also seen to size 1.

On Monday, no new natural avalanches were reported. Numerous explosive-controlled cornice drops and storm slabs were initiated up to size 2.

On Sunday, in the Spearhead Range, a skier-triggered wind slab (size 1.5) caught and buried a skier to their knees. This occurred on a southwest aspect at 1800 m. The depth of the crown was 20-80 cm and 20 m wide. This skier was extracted by Whistler SAR with minor injuries.

Natural and human triggered avalanche activity may occur throughout the week with rising freezing levels and solar radiation.

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow will likely become moist solar aspects during the day and cornices loom over ridgelines. These may become weak during periods of intense solar radiation. Up to 35 cm of recent storm snow may have been transported by southerly winds in the alpine and at treeline. In sheltered areas, this new snow sits on top of two distinct surfaces. On solar aspects, a crust can be expected and on polar aspects, facets may be found. The recent storm snow may have a poor bond to the underlying surfaces.

Deeper in the mid-pack a couple of crusts with facets sitting above them can be found at treeline and above down 90 to 200 cm.

The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear. Alpine temperatures near -9. Wind from the east 15 km/hr and freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday

A mix of sun. Alpine temperatures near -4. Winds southeast 10-20 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -2. Wind southeast 10-20 km/hr. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. Winds 10-20 km/hr from the south. Alpine temperatures near -2 with freezing levels 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.