Avalanche forecast

North Columbia

Mar 22 – 23, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Seasonal weather returns. The best riding will be on northerly aspects up high, but travel with caution, as a buried weak layer may still exist.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    A 40 to 60 cm thick slab of snow may be poorly bonded to weak, sugary faceted snow. This layer is likely most problematic on northerly aspects above 2000 m, where it is associated with hard, wind-affected snow.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The snowpack may remain saturated below the snow-rain level, so loose wet avalanches may still be possible to trigger.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, light southwest wind, freezing level 2300 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1600 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, light southeast wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 1800 m.MONDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light south wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1700 m.

Avalanche Summary

Many wet loose avalanches were observed between Sunday and Thursday. They were large (up to size 3), occurred mostly on southeast to southwest aspects, and at all elevations. A few large slab avalanches were also triggered on all aspects, running to valley bottom. The wet avalanche cycle will diminish over the weekend as cooler and cloudier weather prevails.

Snowpack Summary

Below around 1600 m, the snow surface should remain wet on all aspects due to rain this weekend. Above around 1600 m, the weekend’s precipitation should fall as snow.  The snow will overly a melt-freeze crust on all aspects up to 2000 m and to ridgetop on sun-exposed slopes. The new snow will fall onto previously dry snow and potentially surface hoar crystals on northerly aspects above 2000 m.The remainder of the snowpack is generally consolidated and strong. The exception is on northerly aspects above around 2000 m, where a weak layer of faceted grains may still exist in combination with old and hard wind-affected snow. This layer is buried around 40 to 60 cm.

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