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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 11th, 2024–Mar 12th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency. Choose low-consequence terrain and avoid exposure to overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several large and very large, accidental, and remotely triggered slab avalanches continue to occur across the region. Some have been triggered from low-angle or flat terrain onto adjacent or overhead slopes. We expect the potential for riders to trigger avalanches will remain elevated over the following days.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of new snow brings the recent storm snow to a total of 40 to 80 cm, forming reactive slabs across the region. Several persistent weak layers are now buried between 80 and 160 cm deep, including hard crusts with overlying weak facets and surface hoar. Ongoing avalanche activities have been reported on these weak layers.

At lower elevations, the upper snowpack may be moist or crusty.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow expected. 40 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around - 3 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow expected. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1100 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5-10 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

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.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.