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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 13th, 2024–Mar 14th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

Avalanche danger may increase during the day with sun and rising temperaturesRider triggering of large avalanches is an ongoing concern. Choose conservative, low consequence terrain

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The region continued to see widespread avalanche activity on Tuesday including naturals up to size 3, and rider triggered avalanches up to size 2.

Ongoing natural, rider and remotely triggered avalanches persist on this layer. With the province heating up this weekend it's a good time to avoid avalanche terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow totals 40 to 60 cm across the region. The new snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected snow from previous strong southwest winds. A melt-freeze crust exists on the surface up to 1700 m and to ridgetop on solar slopes.

Below this, two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.

A thick and hard widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas and has been reactive to human triggering.

The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Thursday

Sunny with cloudy periods. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near -1°C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Friday

Sunny. Mostly light winds but in places gusty to 40 km/h from the northwest at ridgetop. Alpine temperatures high near +5°C. Freezing level rising to 3000 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures low of +5°C and a high of +8°C Freezing level rising 3200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

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.

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.

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.