Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2024–Mar 27th, 2024

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, 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.

Regions

North Columbia, Blue River, Premier, Clemina, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat.

Assess for slab formation if your riding area receives new snow. Terrain management is your best approach at avoiding the persistent slab problem.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday a skier triggered a small wind slab on a northeast aspect in alpine terrain. It was 15 cm deep on a 40 degree slope.

The latest persistent slab avalanches occurred late last week in alpine terrain on all aspects during daytime warming and from cornice falls.

The likelihood of similar persistent slab activity is decreased at this time. Human triggering is most likely in thin, rocky alpine areas where the layer is close to the snow surface.

Snowpack Summary

Variable amounts of snow Tuesday night and Wednesday will accumulate at higher elevations, ranging from trace to upwards of 15 cm. On northerly alpine terrain the new snow will fall onto surface hoar crystals that overly soft or wind affect snow. Elsewhere, the snow will fall onto a hard melt-freeze crust.

A widespread crust that formed in early February is buried anywhere from 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a weak layer of faceted grains above it that are slowly strengthening.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow and isolated pockets of up to 15 cm possible north of Revelstoke. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.

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.