Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2024–Mar 15th, 2024

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Below Treeline

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Clearwater, South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Avoid being in or under avalanche terrain.

Intense spring sun and rising temperatures are making large natural avalanches likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

Looking forward, we expect that natural avalanches will be likely, and human triggered avalanches will be very likely.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, avalanche or snowpack observations, or even just a photo or two.

Snowpack Summary

In the morning, dry snow may remain at high elevations, with refrozen crusts at lower elevations. Through the day, surface snow will start to melt due to intense spring sun and freezing levels forecasted to be well above mountain tops. This loose, melted snow will get deeper into the snowpack as the day goes on.

A widespread crust is buried 40-90 cm deep. In some areas, a weak layer of facets can be found above. Recent tests suggested this layer was gaining strength, and no recent avalanche activity had been reported. However, we expect the warm weather to destabilise the snowpack, and this layer could become active again.

The snowpack below this crust is strong and well bonded.

Weather Summary

Any night-time cooling will be restricted to near valley bottom, the alpine will stay well above 0 °C.

Thursday Night

Clear. No new snow expected. Light to moderate northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 2700 m. Treeline high around 3 °C.

Friday

Sunny. No new snow expected. Light north ridgetop wind. Freezing level rises to 3200 m. Treeline high around 6 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. No new snow expected. Freezing level 3300 m. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 8 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. No new snow expected. Freezing level 3300 m. Light southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Problems

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.

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.