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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2023–Mar 27th, 2023

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, North Okanagan, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Continue to manage small sluffs, that could turn into a larger loose dry avalanche.

Even short windows of sun effect can turn steep south-facing slopes moist so pay attention to surface conditions if the sun starts to peak out.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry size 1 reported in the forecast region.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow accumulated over the past week overlies a crust on all terrain except north-facing slopes treeline and above. On these high northerly slopes, soft snow overlies facets and surface hoar to mountain tops.

30-50 cm down there is another sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-10 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes. The distribution of this surface hoar is spotty.

The remainder of 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 for human triggering in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas at treeline and above. Small avalanches and cornice falls also have the potential to trigger this deep layer.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of convective flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light variable winds and treeline temperatures -6 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing a few cm of new snow. Light northwest winds and treeline temperatures of -6 °C.

Tuesday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. Light northerly winds and treeline temperatures of -6 °C.

Wednesday

Increasing clouds with no new snow expected. Light northeast winds and treeline temperatures of -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

Problems

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.