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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2023–Mar 9th, 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

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on a variety of aspects in the alpine.

Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating.

Sun crust on sunny aspects. Recent southeasterly winds formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.

These slabs are sitting on a crust that may have small facets associated with it in isolated locations.

The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.

Check out a recent North Shore Snowpack Update for a visual description of what the snowpack may look like in this region.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy / Light southeast ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline -2 C / Freezing level 600 m.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline 5 C / Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday

Increasing cloudiness / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline 3 C / Freezing level 700 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with flurries; 5-10 cm / Moderate southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline 3 C / Freezing level 800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Problems

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.