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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2022–Mar 30th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

A skiff of new snow may not be enough to float us over the firm surface underneath. Prepare for challenging travel conditions, and watch for loose wet and windslab avalanche hazard on isolated terrain. 

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Light snow/rain expected, but up to 8 cm east of Pemberton. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind, with periods of strong in the high alpine. Freezing level falls to around 1300 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Light snow/rain expected, but up to 5 cm east of Hope. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1300 m. 

THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Light snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to around 750 m overnight and rising to 1500 m through the day.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Light snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind with periods of strong in the high alpine. Freezing level falling to around 750 m overnight and rising to 1500 m through the day.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a few small wet loose avalanches were reported in the south end of the region.  

Saturday, Sunday and Monday, small loose wet avalanches were naturally triggered by warm temperatures and sunshine.

Snowpack Summary

In localized areas on the Duffy and around Hope, up to 10 cm of new snow falling with moderate southwest wind may form small, reactive windslabs on old, firm surfaces. With freezing levels falling to 1300m, a frozen crust is expected on all aspects into the alpine. In the northern end of the region, on the few peaks above 2500 m, cold, winter snow may be found in shaded alpine terrain, with a sun crust on south facing slopes.

The rest of the upper snowpack consists of a number of crust/facet/surface hoar interfaces buried in March that seem to have bonded during the recent warm weather. 

The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well bonded. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

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.

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.