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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2024–Mar 8th, 2024

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

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Dangerous conditions persist. Manage the uncertainty around buried weak layers by sticking to low-angle terrain, avoiding overhead hazard, and communicating with groups around you.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday a naturally triggered size 1.5 persistent slab avalanche was observed in the alpine on a west aspect. Another persistent slab, size 1.5, was skier-triggered in the Hurley area on Tuesday. It was 80 cm deep and occurred on a northeast-facing roll at treeline.

Recent natural activity has been reported on north and west facing slopes at treeline and above to size 2.5 (large). This MIN gives a snapshot in the Wendy Thompson area.

Snowpack Summary

Light new snow amounts, thin surface crusts (on solar aspects) and new surface hoar growth have begun to change the snow surface. Otherwise, 50 - 90 cm of recent storm snow is continuing to settle over a facet/surface hoar/crust layer directly beneath it.

Just below, an older, more problematic combination layer of faceted snow over a thick crust is now 80-140 cm deep. This layer is the primary avalanche concern in the region, continuing to show sensitivity to human triggers and produce concerning snowpack test results. The snowpack below this layer is well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Mainly cloudy. 5-10 km/h southwest or west alpine winds. Freezing level to valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 1-5 cm. 60-90 km/h southwest alpine winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level to 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall 5-15 cm. 40-50 km/h southwest alpine winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing levels rising to 1600 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing 1-5 cm of new snow,. 30-50 km/h south alpine winds, easing. Treeline temperature -3 with freezing level falling from 1600 to 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

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.

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.