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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2024–Mar 6th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Continue to manage buried weak layers by choosing low-angle terrain, and avoiding overhead hazard.

Minimize your exposure to south facing slopes during strong afternoon sunshine.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Further reports add to significant natural and remotely triggered avalanches this week. Most recently natural activity has been reported from north and west facing slopes at treeline and above to size 2.5. This MIN, reports a remotely triggered persistent slab avalanche in the Wendy Thompson area.

A notable size 3 slab avalanche was observed on Sunday, failing near the ground at 2 m deep on a north facing slope. This is likely a reloaded bed surface.

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

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear skies. 10 km/hr westerly winds. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

Wednesday

Mostly clear skies. 10-20 km/hr northwest winds. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing levels around 500 m.

Thursday

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

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 30-50 km/hr southwest winds. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels head towards 1500 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.
  • 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.

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.