Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 20th, 2024–Mar 21st, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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

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

Don't let new snow lure you into consequential terrain.

Where a thick surface crust is present, large slab avalanches are less likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a size 2 natural persistent slab avalanche was reported on a south-facing slope at treeline. The widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 continued while temperatures were warm through Monday.

Looking ahead, in areas where you find a thick surface crust, avalanche activity is becoming unlikely.

Snowpack Summary

Above 1000 m, up to 20 cm of new snow will likely overlie a firm crust. Expect to find wet surface snow at low elevations.

Two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack.

A thick and hard widespread crust, formed in early February, is buried about 70 to 130 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.

The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 mm, greatest in the North Selkirks, falling as snow above 1000 m. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m dropping to surface.

Thursday

Cloudy. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures -4 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures -8 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 15 km/h north ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
If triggered, storm slabs in-motion may step down to deeper layers and result in very large avalanches.
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.