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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2023–Mar 28th, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Wind slabs are the main concern. Take note of the wind direction and anticipate slopes where wind slabs may exist.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches were reported in the past couple days.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 5 to 15 cm of new snow accumulating over the past 3 days is being redistributed by moderate northeast winds. These new wind slabs sit over a crust on solar aspects and all aspects below 1500 m. On high north-facing terrain, these wind slabs may sit over facets and surface hoar.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of strengthening but this layer remains a concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly clear. Light northeast wind. High of -4 °C at treeline.

Tuesday

Mainly sunny. Light northeast wind. High of -2 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1500m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. High of -3 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1500m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate northwest wind. High of -1 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1700m.

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.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.