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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2022–Mar 10th, 2022

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos.

 Recently formed wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on steep and/or convex slopes.

Cornices are very large in many areas. Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy / Moderate northwest winds / Low of -20 / Freezing level surface.

THURSDAY: Increasing cloudiness / Light northwest wind / High of -7 / Freezing level surface.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm / Strong west wind / High of -4 / Freezing level rising to 1100 m.

SATURDAY: Flurries; 3-10 cm / Strong west wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 1300 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.

A skier triggered size 1.5 storm slab avalanche and a large natural cornice failure (size 2.5) were reported on Sunday. The cornice did not trigger any slabs on the slope below.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of recent snow and west/northwest winds have formed wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. These slabs may remain more reactive on south facing slopes where they are sitting on a slippery sun crust. Below the recent snow, there may be a layer of small surface hoar that is likely most pronounced on northerly aspects or sheltered locations.

Lower elevations have seen warm temperatures last week and have a melt freeze crust on the surface to 1500 m. 

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas, with prominent crust layers 50 to 100 cm deep. No recent persistent slab avalanches have been reported on these layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

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.