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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2024–Mar 25th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

If a thick surface crust is present, large slab avalanches are unlikely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Skiers were able to trigger small wind slabs on steep convexities throughout the region on Saturday.

On Friday, several large natural persistent slabs were reported on north aspects, south of Revelstoke. Explosive control in the North Selkirks produced large persistent slab avalanches and cornice falls, up to size 3. These avalanches are the tail end of a widespread avalanche cycle on the buried weak layer described in the snowpack summary.

Snowpack Summary

There is up to 15 cm of soft snow on shady north and east-facing slopes in some parts of the region. At ridgetops, this new snow may have been blown around creating wind slabs on lee slopes. The recent snow sits on a crust at upper elevations, and the crust is expected to be at the surface below 1500 m and on sunny south- and west-facing slopes.

Two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack.

A widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it, producing the previous large, natural avalanche cycle.Check out this great MIN for detailed info on snowpack conditions near Revelstoke.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly clear. 20 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around -8 °C.

Monday

Increasing cloud. 15 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow in the North Columbias, and up to 20 cm of snow in the South Columbias. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with trace snow flurries. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially 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.

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.