Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2023–Mar 31st, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Use good travel habits and avoid shallow, rocky start zones. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features, and in extreme terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, west of McBride, a large (size 3.0), naturally triggered, cornice avalanche was reported on a north aspect in the alpine. It travelled 600 m down the slope and entrained a large amount of loose snow.

Snowpack Summary

By Thursday afternoon, up to 5cm of new snow may have fallen over a thin crust on steep slopes facing the sun right up into the alpine. Snow that fell earlier in the week has been redistributed by northeast winds. On high, north-facing terrain, wind slabs may sit over facets and surface hoar.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong. There continues to be a weak layer of facets from November at the base of the snowpack. This layer remains a concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, increasing cloud in the morning. No new snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind, moderate at higher elevations. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 0-5 cm of snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind, trending to moderate at higher elevations. Freezing level rising to 1200 m. Treeline high around -5°C.

Saturday

Partly cloudy. 0-5 cm of snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind, trending to moderate west at higher elevations. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1200 m. Treeline high around -5°C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Very light northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1100 m. Treeline high around -5°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.