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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2020–Mar 3rd, 2020

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Between fresh wind slabs and a touchy persistent weak layer, human triggered avalanches are very likely. Keep in mind it's not always the first rider who triggers the slab.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Monday night: 5-10 cm new snow. Strong west wind, extreme at ridgetop. Freezing level 1300 m.

Tuesday: Isolated flurries bringing a trace of new snow. Moderate west wind. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday: 5-10 cm new snow. Moderate west wind. Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday: 5-10 cm new snow. Moderate southwest wind. Freezing level 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Over the last few days, persistent slab avalanches were reported, running on the surface hoar layer. Skier triggered size 1-2 on north to east aspects in the alpine, and natural size 2-3 in steep alpine terrain with a few size 2 observed below treeline. Natural wind and storm slabs size 1.5-3 were observed on north to east aspects in the alpine on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Light snowfall and strong winds are building fresh wind slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline.

A weak layer of widespread surface hoar sits 60-80 cm deep, ontop of a crust on solar aspects. The overlying snow has been cohered into slabs by incremental loading through successive storms, wind and mild temperatures. As slab character and depth increase, so do reactivity and size of avalanches failing on the weak layer. Read more about surface hoar on our forecaster blog! There is uncertainty about the distribution of this layer in the north of the region. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Stick to simple terrain or small features with limited consequence.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.