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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2022–Mar 31st, 2022

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

Sea To Sky.

As we transition to spring, you may find different conditions at every aspect, elevation, and time. Watch for snowpack conditions that change through the day, and as you move through terrain. 

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Light snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to around 700 m. 

THURSDAY: Partly cloudy, possible sunny morning in Whistler. Very light snow/rain expected. Light west ridgetop wind, trending to northwest at higher elevations. Freezing level rising to 1400 m through the day.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. 1-4 cm of snow expected at high elevations. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to strong at high elevations. Freezing level falling to around 750 m overnight, back up to 1400 m through the day.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with a sunny break mid-day. 3-10 cm of snow expected overnight, with the highest amounts being around Squamish. Light snow/rain through the day. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to moderate west at high elevations. Freezing level falling to 800 m overnight, back up to 1400 m through the day.

Avalanche Summary

No new and notable avalanches were reported on Wednesday before 4 pm. 

On Tuesday, small, natural loose wet avalanches were reported in steep rocky terrain, along with thin, natural windslab avalanches up to size 1.5 on isolated features in the alpine. Explosive avalanche control produced a few small to large cornice avalanches. 

Snowpack Summary

Around 5 cm of recent snow that fell with moderate southwest wind may have formed small, reactive windslabs on old, firm surfaces. With freezing levels much lower than earlier in the week, a frozen crust is expected on all aspects into the alpine. On the highest peaks, above 2200 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.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Problems

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.

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.