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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2023–Mar 9th, 2023

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

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sasquatch.

Southeasterly winds continue to form wind slabs on lee features in the alpine which may be reactive to human triggers.

Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several skier triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported on northwesterly aspects in the alpine near Whistler on Tuesday.

Two cornice triggered size 2-2.5 wind slab avalanches were reported on a northwest aspect at 1800 m in the Brandywine zone on Monday. One of them hit the Chocolate Bowl access trail.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating.

Sun crust on sunny aspects. 10-15 cm of recent snow and strong southeasterly wind continue to form wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above. These slabs are sitting on either hard surfaces or small facets.

A couple crusts with facets sitting above them can be found at treeline and above down 60-180 cm.

The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear skies / Light southeast ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline -12 C / Freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday

Mostly sunny / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -2 C / Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday

Increasing cloudiness / Light east ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -3 C / Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm / Light southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -3 C / Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.