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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2024–Mar 18th, 2024

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

Regions

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

⚠️ Avoid being in or under avalanche terrain ⚠️Natural avalanches continue to be likely while it's warm and sunny.

Check out our latest blog for more information.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 continued. Most reports aren't specific, as many operations didn't venture very far. Loose wet and persistent slab avalanches are most likely.

On Friday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle was observed with numerous size 3 avalanches on slopes that saw full sun.

Widespread natural avalanche activity is expected to continue until the temperature drops enough for a hard surface crust to start forming.

Snowpack Summary

Moist or wet snow surfaces extend into the alpine on all aspects. The exception may be high, shaded, north-facing terrain.

In general, 40 to 80 cm of settling snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected surfaces.

Two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.

A thick and hard widespread crust that 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

Sunday Night

Clear. Light west ridgetop wind. Freezing level dropping to between 2500 and 2000 m.

Monday

Sunny. Light west ridgetop wind, shifting to northwest in the afternoon. Freezing level between 2500 and 2000 m. Treeline high around 3 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. Light variable ridgetop wind. Freezing level dropping to around 2200 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy. Light snowfall expected. Spotty areas of 10-20 cm. Freezing levels vary widely across the forecast area, dropping to between 500 and 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
  • Cornices may release remotely when approached.
  • Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid lingering or regrouping in runout zones.

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.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.