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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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast, Powell River, Tantalus, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Pay attention once wind starts to blow, southeast winds and 15-30 cm of recent storm snow may form fresh wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations during the day on Monday.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, several rider triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1 on steep treeline and alpine features. A few small natural and skier triggered wind slab avalanches were reported at treeline where the wind had built more cohesive pockets of snow.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of recent snow and light southwesterly wind may have formed small wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations.

Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust, existing on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. In north facing high alpine terrain the surface snow may have remained cold and dry.

The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light southeast ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a low of -5 C. Freezing level 800 m.

Monday

Mainly sunny. Moderate southeast ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a high of +2 C. Freezing level 1500 m

Tuesday

Sunny. Strong east ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a high of +3 C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Wednesday

Sunny. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Temperatures at treeline reach a high of +4 C. Freezing level 1700 m.

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.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.