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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2022–Mar 28th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Watch for wet avalanche activity, and wet or heavy surface snow. High freezing levels overnight with no refreeze will weaken the snowpack. 

Short bursts of strong sunshine may rapidly destabilize the snowpack on south facing slopes. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, around 3 cm of snow, with freezing levels dropping from 2000 -1500 m. Moderate southwest winds. 

MONDAY: Another 3 cm of snow over the day, mostly cloudy. Freezing levels rise to 2000 m. Light northerly winds. 

TUESDAY: Mostly clear skies, light southerly winds. Freezing levels reach 2500 m throughout the region. 

WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Flurries possible, freezing levels remain around 1500 m. Moderate westerly winds. 

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, small loose wet avalanches were naturally triggered by raised freezing levels and short periods of sunshine. Similar activity is expected to continue on Monday. 

On Friday, a cornice triggered wind slab size 1.5 was reported in an alpine feature. 

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels have remained around 2000 m for the last few days, as a result moist snow or a melt freeze crust likely exists below on all aspects. Above 2000 m, recent snowfall totals of 5-10 cm sit on wind affected surfaces in shaded alpine areas, and on a sun crust on south facing slopes. 

A melt-freeze crust from mid March exists down 40 to 60 cm on all aspects below 1500 m. The mid and lower snowpack is thought to be well settled and strong at this time. 

 This MIN report describes recent conditions in the Coquihalla area.

Terrain and Travel

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

Problems

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

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.