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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2023–Mar 18th, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Recently formed storm slabs may remain reactive to human triggers; especially on sunny aspects where they are sitting on a crust.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous rider triggered size 1 storm slabs were reported on a variety of aspects at treeline and above on Thursday. The majority of the avalanches occurred on sunny aspects in the alpine where the recent snow was sitting on a crust.

Additionally, a naturally triggered size 2 storm slab was reported on a sunny aspect in the alpine near Blue River.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate southwesterly wind and 20-30 cm of recent snow have created wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers.

The sun and warm temperatures are beginning to make their mark on the snowpack. On solar aspects and at lower elevations the top layer of snow may become moist in the afternoons and frozen in the mornings.

Below the new snow are a variety of surfaces. These include surface hoar, 3 to 10 mm, on shady slopes at all elevations, wind-affected surfaces at treeline and above, and sun crust on sunny aspects.

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 in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy / 20 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -10 C / Freezing level valley bottom

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud / 10 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -4 C / Freezing level 1600 m

Sunday

Sunny / 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1700 m

Monday

Mostly cloudy / 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1700 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

Problems

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.

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.