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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2024–Mar 19th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Begin your day early and steer clear of avalanche terrain while daytime warming and sun effect weaken a supportive surface crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural, skier, and explosive-triggered large persistent slab avalanches were reported over the weekend. Reports suggest remotely triggered avalanches remain possible.

Snowpack Summary

A widespread melt-freeze crust exists on the surface. Expect the crust to deteriorate, and the surface snow to become moist at lower elevations and south-facing terrain throughout the day.

Several weak layers, including crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar exist approximately 90 and 180 cm below the surface.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. 0 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 2 cm of snow at higher elevations. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain as temperatures increase.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.