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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2021–Mar 26th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Columbia.

Watch for changing snow conditions when you gain elevation and transition into open wind affected terrain.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures drop to -7 C.

FRIDAY: Sunny in the morning then increasing cloud in the afternoon, 20-30 km/h northwest wind, freezing level up to 1500 m and treeline temperatures around -4 C.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with some light flurries but no notable accumulations of snow, 20 km/h southwest wind, freezing level up to 1800 m, treeline temperatures around -2 C.

SUNDAY: Flurries with 10-20 cm of snow, 30-50 km/h southwest wind, freezing level up to 1600 m, treeline temperatures around -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity has quieted down since a Monday and Tuesday when there were numerous reports of size 1-2 storm slab avalanches on north, east, and south facing slopes. On Wednesday reports were primarily limited to size 1-1.5 dry loose and storm slab avalanches in the top 15-20 cm of snow. One size 2 skier triggered avalanche was reported in the southern Selkirks. The avalanche was triggered on a east facing slope at 2250 m and ran on a 30 cm deep crust layer. 

On Friday and Saturday there will be a lingering possibility to trigger storm slab, wind slab, and dry loose avalanches in the upper snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

At alpine and treeline elevations 10-15 cm of fresh snow sits above sun crusts on solar aspects and small surface hoar on shaded aspects. Over the past week 30-50 cm has accumulated above an interface that formed during the mid-March dry spell, which consists of a widespread crust (except on north-facing slopes above 1800 m). Overall the snow seems to be bonding well to these interfaces, although there have been a few isolated human triggered avalanches running on crusts layer over the past few days.

Lower elevations have undergone daily melt-freeze cycles, with moist or crusty surfaces likely found up to at least 1800 m.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with open slopes and convex rolls, especially in more extreme terrain.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.