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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2023–Mar 25th, 2023

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

Regions

South Coast, Powell River, Tantalus, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous rider triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported on northerly aspects in the alpine around the Sky Pilot zone on Thursday.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow Thursday night and light southwest wind.

Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust, existing on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. In north facing high alpine terrain the surface snow may have remained cold and dry.

The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / 20 km/h west ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline around 0 C / Freezing level 500 m

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with flurries; 3-15 cm / 10 km/h west ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 700 m

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud / 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -2 C / Freezing level 800 m

Monday

Sunny / 20 km/h east ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around 2 C / Freezing level 1500 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.