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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2021–Mar 16th, 2021

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

Cariboos.

Conditions are mostly favourable for travel in avalanche terrain. Pay attention to steep, south-facing slopes as they heat up during the day and be mindful of large cornices.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Clear and cold.

TUESDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, no snow expected. Freezing level rising to about 1500 m. Light southerly wind.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, no snow expected. Freezing level rising to about 1700 m. Moderate southerly wind.

THURSDAY: Sunny, becoming cloudy through the day. Freezing level rising to about 2000 m. Moderate to strong southerly wind.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, only small loose wet avalanches were observed.

On Saturday in the north Monashees, which is outside of but very close to the eastern side of the region, there was a very large, size 3.5 avalanche reported. It was triggered by a cornice and stepped down to a deeper persistent layer.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of recent new snow and moderate southwesterly winds have formed fresh wind slabs below alpine ridgetops. Dry snow can be found on north aspects and crusty snow surfaces exist on solar aspects. Large cornices loom over alpine ridges.

A persistent weak layer made up of surface hoar at treeline elevations and a crust with facets in the alpine on solar aspects can be found down 50-150 cm in some parts of the region. Only one recent avalanche has been reported on a deeper layer and this involved a very heavy trigger (a cornice).

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.