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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2023–Mar 26th, 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 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, Kokanee, North Okanagan, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Continue to practice good group management, high mark or ski steep slopes one at a time and minimize time below cornices.

Back off steep slopes as the surface becomes moist.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small loose wet and loose dry avalanches continue to be triggered by skiers in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow overlies a crust on all terrain except north facing slopes treeline and above. On these high northerly slopes new snow overlies facets and surface hoar to mountain tops.

30-50 cm down there is another sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-10 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes. Distribution of this surface hoar is spotty.

The remainder of the mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern for human triggering in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas at treeline and above. Small avalanches and cornice falls also have the potential to trigger this deep layer.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of flurries bringing a few cm of new snow. Light northwest winds and a low of -9°C at 1800 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of convective flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light variable winds and freezing levels rising to 1600 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing a few cm of new snow. Light northwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.

Tuesday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. Light northerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

Problems

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.