Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 12th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
Natural avalanche activity could spike on slopes facing the sun.
Rider and remote triggering of large avalanches are an ongoing concern. Choose conservative, low consequence terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, a widespread avalanche cycle occurred up to size 3.5. Numerous natural persistent slab avalanches were reported on all aspects, failing on the early February rain crust.
Ongoing natural, rider and remotely triggered avalanches persist on this layer. Avoid solar slopes when the sun is out.
Snowpack Summary
Tuesday morning saw, 5 to 20 cm of new snow, bringing recent storm snow totals near 40 to 60 cm across the region with the Cariboo's seeing the higher amounts. The new snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected snow from previous strong southwest winds.
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 that formed in early February is buried about 70 to 120 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.
The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Clear periods with isolated flurries. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10°C. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near -8°C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near -3°C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Friday
Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near 0°C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
- 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.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets rests above a hard-melt freeze crust that formed early February. This layer remains in the depth for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Southerly winds and new snow will add to the wind slab problem. These avalanches have the potential to step down to deeper weak layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Even short periods of sunshine can initiate natural avalanche actively. Especially from steep slopes facing the sun.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 13th, 2024 4:00PM
