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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2021–Mar 9th, 2021

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

Watch out on recently wind affected slopes and slopes experiencing direct sunshine. Buried weak layers could still be reactive, especially on slopes exposed to direct sun.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how buried persistent weak layers will react with the forecast incoming weather.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Clear and cold, with alpine temperatures dipping to around -11 C.

TUESDAY: Clear through most of the day, some clouds in the late afternoon. Light variable winds becoming southwesterly in the afternoon. Alpine high temperature -3 C. Freezing level 1300 m.

WEDNESDAY: Light snow, 2-5 cm. Light southwesterly winds. Alpine high temperature -5 C. Freezing level 500 m.

THURSDAY: Mostly dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate southwesterly winds. Alpine High temperature -6C. Freezing level 700 m.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were reported in this region on Sunday or Monday.

A widespread avalanche cycle occurred in this region at the end of last week (around March 4-5) in response to intense wind loading and rapid warming.

Snowpack Summary

Crusty snow surfaces exist up to around 1600 m and even higher on slopes that have been exposed to direct sunshine. Cornices are present along ridgelines.

In the last week of February and the first week of March, a number of large avalanches were reported on persistent weak layers in the Cariboos. The layers of primary concern are a 50-100 cm deep layer of facets that was buried in mid-February, a 50-150 cm deep layer of surface hoar from early February that was most prevalent at treeline (and existed as a facet/crust combination on steep south-facing terrain), and finally another persistent weak layer from late January that is now roughly 100-150 cm deep. Evidence suggests these weak layers have become hard to trigger, particularly in areas to the south and east, but it's too early to write these off completely.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

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.