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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2023–Mar 24th, 2023

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, Shuswap, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, North Okanagan, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Continue to practice good group management, high mark or ski steep slopes one at a time and minimize time below cornices.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past few days wet loose avalanches up to size 3 and natural cornice falls up to size 2.5 were reported throughout the region. One of these large wet loose avalanches triggered a deep persistent slab avalanche at 2600 m. The crown was up to 2 m deep.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm could overlie a crust on solar aspects and all aspects treeline and below. On high north facing terrain this new snow will overlie surface hoar.

30-50 cm down there is a sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-10 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern for human triggering in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas at treeline and above. Small avalanches and cornice falls also have the potential to trigger this deep layer.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Increasing cloud with up to 10 cm of new snow expected. Light southerly winds and a Low of -7°C at 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly Cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light southwest winds and a High of -4°C at 1800 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of convective flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light westerly winds and a high of -4°C at 1800 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with the possibility of flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light northeast winds and Freezing levels rising to 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.