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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2023–Mar 10th, 2023

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

Regions

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

Assess for wind slab as you gain elevation. Southeasterly winds continue to form wind slabs on lee features in the alpine which may be reactive to human triggers.

Minimize time travelling on slopes below cornices. In shallow snowpack areas a cornice fall could trigger a deep persistent slab avalanche.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A cornice triggered size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a northwest aspect in the alpine in the Duffey zone on Tuesday. No significant avalanches were reported on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

A new sun crust exists on or near the surface on solar aspects. Recent southeasterly winds have formed wind slabs near ridge crests on northerly aspects. These slabs sit on a variety of surfaces including sun crusts, facets, and previous wind effect. These recent winds have also formed large cornices. Around 20 cm of soft snow can be found in sheltered terrain.

The mid-snowpack is well consolidated.

This is not the case for the lower snowpack. There is a widespread weak layer of large sugary facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity on this layer has been confined to northern parts of the region in the Chilcotins. This layer remains a concern in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light easterly winds and a low of -10°C at 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected. Light easterly winds shifting to light southwest winds in the afternoon. High of -5°C at 1800 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southerly winds and a high of -5°C at 1800 m.

Sunday

Stormy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected. Light to moderate southerly winds and a high of -4°C at 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

Problems

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.