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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2024–Mar 31st, 2024

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, 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, human triggered possible.

Regions

Cariboos, North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Quesnel, Jordan, Shuswap, Gold, North Okanagan, Whatshan.

Expect varying conditions with elevation and aspect. Assess the bond of the new snow before committing to high-consequence terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

The past few days saw small (size 1) storm slab and loose avalanches in alpine terrain. Loose wet avalanches are also expected on sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day.

Please consider submitting your observations to the MIN if you head to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 30 cm of recent snow accumulated over the past few days, with rain below 1000 to 1500 m. This new snow sits on surface hoar crystals that overly soft or wind affect snow on northerly alpine terrain or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere. Thicker deposits may be found in lee terrain features near ridgetop. Sun-exposed slopes are likely crusty in the morning and moistening with daytime heating.

Weak faceted grains above a hard crust that formed in early February is buried around 100 to 150 cm deep. The layer is strengthening and is currently dormant.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Tuesday

Clear skies. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

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.

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.