Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2023–Mar 30th, 2023

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.

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.

It will likely still be warm with a mix of sun and cloud on Thursday. If the sun stays out for an extended time think about an increase in the likelihood of loose wet avalanches running in steep terrain facing the sun.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches were reported in the past few days.

Snowpack Summary

There is likely a thin crust on steep slopes facing the sun right up into the alpine. Any recent new snow 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

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy. Light northeast wind. High of -9 °C at treeline. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. Light northeast wind. High of -1 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1700m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Light to moderate southwest wind. High of -4 °C at treeline. Freezing level 1400m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with flurries. Light southwest wind. High of -4 °C at treeline. Freezing level 1300m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
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.