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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2024–Mar 4th, 2024

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Valhalla.

⚠️Dangerous avalanche conditions⚠️

The snowpack is primed for human triggering. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making is essential.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural, skier, and remotely triggered avalanches up to size 3.5 have been reported throughout the region daily over the past week. Many of these avalanches failed on layers below the recent storm snow, the mid-February weak layer, and the early-February facet/crust layer.

While natural activity has begun to taper off, human triggering is expected to remain a serious concern.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 70 cm of recent snow has accumulated over the last week. The new snow has formed touchy slabs, especially in wind-exposed terrain and may sit over a variety of weak interfaces.

A weak layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February may be found down 40 to 80 cm.

A widespread crust formed in early February is buried by roughly 60 to 120 cm and extends up to 2400 m. Weak facets have been found above this crust. This layer continues to produce concerning avalanches across the province.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of snow,. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

Up to 5 cm of snow overnight then a mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.