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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2024–Mar 5th, 2024

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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 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.

Danger may reach HIGH on sun affected slopes. Sun can rapidly increase avalanche danger and may produce natural avalanche activity.

Stick to low-angle and supported terrain features

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Remotely triggered and natural avalanches continue to be reported to size 2. These avalanches continue to occur on the buried weak layers around 80 cm deep.

A notable size 3 slab avalanche was observed to have failed near the ground, around 2 m deep on a north facing slope.

Check out this MIN for a great overview of conditions around Steep Creek.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow is beginning to settle. However, reports show this storm snow is still not bonding well to the crust/facet/surface hoar layer buried 50-90 cm deep. This layer continues to show sensitivity to human triggers, and will take time to begin to settle and bond.

Strong sunshine is expected to create moist or wet snow on south facing slopes and increase the reactivity of weak layers.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. 10-20 km/hr westerly winds. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

Tuesday

Mostly clear skies. 10-20 km/hr westerly winds. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

Wednesday

Mostly clear skies. 10-20 km/hr northwest winds. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing levels around 500 m.

Thursday

Mostly clear skies. 10-20 km/hr northwest winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing levels head towards 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.

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.