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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2024–Mar 29th, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, North Columbia, South Columbia, Clearwater, Rossland, South Okanagan, Jordan, Shuswap, Gold, North Okanagan, Whatshan.

Surface conditions vary with elevation and aspect. Assess for the bond of the new snow before committing to high-consequence terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thursday saw widespread small (size 1) storm slab and loose avalanches in alpine terrain. We expect similar avalanches remain possible for Friday.

Please consider submitting your observations to the MIN if you head to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Around 5 to 15 cm of snow fell on Thursday above 1000 m and another 5 to 10 cm is possible by the end of Friday. All this new snow sits on surface hoar crystals that overly soft or wind affect snow on northerly alpine terrain or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere. Thicker deposits may be found in lee terrain features near ridgetop. Sun-exposed slopes could moisten with daytime heating, particularly if the skies clear.

Weak faceted grains above a hard crust that formed in early February is buried around 100 to 150 cm deep. The layer is strengthening and is currently dormant.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.