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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2024–Mar 16th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

⚠️ Avoid avalanche terrain ⚠️Elevated temperatures in the alpine and solar input will result in a widespread natural avalanche cycle

Check out our latest blog about the forecasted warming

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, a wide range of natural avalanches were reported throughout the region up to size 3. Natural cornice failure and solar radiation were likely the trigger for many of these avalanches. Several skier triggered avalanches were reported up to size 2.

We expect to see a widespread natural avalanche cycle over the next few days. Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure from overhead hazards (open slopes, cornices) as avalanches could run full path.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow surfaces will extend into the alpine (except for high north-facing slopes) with rising freezing levels, especially on sun-exposed slopes.

40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow is settling rapidly with warm temperatures. The new snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected snow from previous strong southwest winds.

Below this, two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.

A hard widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it and continues to be reactive.

The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.

Weather Summary

Friday

Clear skies. 5 to 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures are a high of +3°C. Freezing level around 3000 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures high near +5°C. Freezing level rising to 3200 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature high near +5°C. Freezing level around 3200 m.

Monday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature high near +4°C. Freezing level around 3000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.
  • Avoid runout zones of avalanche paths on solar aspects, avalanches could run full-path if triggered.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.

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.

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.