Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Mar 30 – 31, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Cool temps and mostly cloudy skies should help this interface to settle out, but remain vigilant for potentially sensitive wind slabs immediately lee of ridge crest. Direct sun and warming temps could initiate natural activity.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–6
    Two deep weak layers exist in the snowpack. These weak layers could be activated by cornice fall, a surface avalanche in motion, or a rider finding the sweet spot, likely near a rock outcropping, or anywhere the snowpack goes from thick to thin.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The trough that delivered snow through the weekend is starting to weaken, giving way to sunny skies and seasonably cool temperatures.Monday: Freezing Level: 1300 - 1600m; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Light, E | Ridgetop: Light, SETuesday: Freezing Level: 1400 - 1700m; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Light, Variable | Ridgetop: Light, NWWednesday: Freezing Level: 1300m - 1500m; Precipitation: Trace; Wind: Treeline: Light, W | Ridgetop: Light, W

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity in the northern portion of the region was limited to natural wet surface sluffs out of steep terrain below treeline. On the Coquihalla a few loose moist avalanches initiated in rock slab start zones ran to size 2.5, terminating in the bottom of the runouts.

Snowpack Summary

The storm produced 10 - 25 cm in the north and around 10 cm in the south. Light to moderate winds generally out of the south formed sensitive wind slabs on isolated terrain features at and above treeline. Below 2000m the new snow rests on a thin melt freeze crust on all aspects, with the exception being north facing terrain features above 1500m. The persistent weak layers from early March and early February continue to be a concern. The March weak layer of wind-scoured crusts, melt-freeze crusts, and/or surface hoar is reported to be down 60 - 100cm. The February crust/facet/surface hoar layer is now deeply buried down 150 - 250cm and may still be triggered by heavy loads like cornice falls or storm slab avalanches in motion. Long fracture propagations resulting in very large avalanches are possible with this layer. Avalanches releasing on these layers may step down to the ground during periods of strong solar radiation or warm spring rain.

Regions covered