Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2022–Mar 29th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

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, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Columbia.

Start and finish your day early. Warm temperature and sunshine may destabilize the snowpack throughout the day, especially on steep slopes that are baking in the sun.

The best and safest riding will be in high north-facing terrain that is free from cornices overhead.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom. 15-30km/h west winds.

TUESDAY: Mainly clear. Freezing level rising to 2000-2500 m in the afternoon. Light variable winds.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, 5-10 cm of accumulation. Freezing level around 1500 m. 20-40 km/h west winds.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, trace accumulation. Freezing level around 1500 m. 20-50 km/h west winds.

Avalanche Summary

Several wet loose avalanches were observed on Sunday at treeline and below (size 1-2.5). A few small human-triggered wind slabs were observed in the alpine (size 1).

The last persistent slab avalanches in the region were on March 24th and 25th. One was a large (size 3) natural avalanche that was observed at 2000 m on an east aspect. The other two both occurred on south-facing alpine slopes. One was a large (size 2.5) natural avalanche and the other was a small (size 1.5) slab remotely triggered by riders. This layer is expected to become dormant after being tested by significant warming followed by cooling temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

Above 2000 m, up to 20 cm of recent snow and southwest winds may have formed small wind slabs in lee terrain features. Below 2000 m a refrozen crust can be found. This crust is expected to break down throughout the day on solar aspects and at low elevations with sun and warm temperatures. Below the crust, the top 10-30 cm of the snowpack is moist.

Several other crust layers exist in the upper snowpack, that have shown no recent reactivity. The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

Terrain and Travel

When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

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.

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.