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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2024–Mar 2nd, 2024

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

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Continued wind and light snowfall into the weekend will keep wind slabs as the main concern.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We have not received any reports of avalanche the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate southwest wind is expected to continue to redistribute fresh snow, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features near ridges. Soft snow may prevail in terrain sheltered from the wind.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried 40 to 60 cm deep. This crust may have a weak layer of facets sitting above it.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 5-15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud. 5-15 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.

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.

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.