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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2024–Mar 30th, 2024

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 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

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.

30 to 50 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.

Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural and rider triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on all aspects/elevations on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

30 to 50 cm of recent snow overlies a crust on all but north facing aspects at treeline and above where a weak layer of surface hoar may be present.

A widespread crust with facets above is buried 80 to 180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the places where it may still be possible to trigger this layer with large loads.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 10 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0° C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5° C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

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.

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.