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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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead.

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

Hazard may be one step higher in localized areas that receive more than 20 cm of new snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A skier triggered size 1 wind slab avalanche was reported on a lee aspect in the alpine near Whistler on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of new snow and moderate southerly wind Thursday night has formed small wind slabs on lee aspects in the alpine.

These slabs overlie hard crusts on all sunny aspects and mixture of decomposing dry snow and possible small surface hoar in isolated locations on shady aspects.

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

At the bottom of the snowpack, a layer of weak facets remains present and continues to be monitored for signs of reactivity.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with flurries; 3-15 cm (localized areas up to 20 cm) / 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline around -8 C / Freezing level valley bottom

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level 1000 m

Sunday

Mostly cloudy / 10 km/h south ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level 1100 m

Monday

Sunny / 20 km/h east ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -5 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.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • 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.