Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Retallack, South Columbia, Valhalla, Whatshan.
Very large persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported.
Triggering is most likely on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, a naturally triggered size 2.5 persistent slab was reported on a northerly aspect in the alpine.
Numerous skier and cornice fall triggered storm slabs up to size 2 were reported primarily on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Numerous naturally triggered wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were also reported on solar aspects at treeline and above.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 20 cm of snow overlies a wet, rain-soaked upper snowpack. Expect a surface crust to form at night on most terrain, except possibly on high north alpine slopes.
Recent avalanche activity has involved multiple persistent weak layers. The most common failure layer is the early March surface hoar, facet, and crust layer, buried 70 to 150 cm deep.
Many avalanches have also stepped down to deeper weak layers from February and January, buried 150 to 200 cm deep.
These layers are still adjusting to recent stress and remain a concern for human-triggering and step-down avalanches.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with flurries, 0 to 20 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with flurries, 0 to 10 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
- Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.
- Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Very large natural persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported, primarily on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Storm Slabs
New snow may form small slabs at upper elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5