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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2023–Mar 31st, 2023

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

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island.

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day on Friday as new snow and wind could form unstable slabs at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Our field team observed small loose wet avalanches out of steep south aspects near Mt Cain on Wednesday. Storm slabs and wind slabs will be the main concern as new snow accumulates.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of new snow will fall on Friday, with deeper deposits in lee terrain. In most areas this snow is falling on moist or crusty snow layers, except shaded terrain above roughly 1600 m where the snow has remained dry over the past week. The middle and lower snowpack are strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Cloudy, scattered flurries starting after midnight with 1 to 3 cm of snow, 40 to 50 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -4 °C with freezing level dropping to 500 m.

Friday

Flurries increasing in intensity in the afternoon, 10 to 20 cm of snow, 50 to 70 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 600 m.

Saturday

Scattered flurries with 5 to 10 cm of snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -3 °C with freezing level around 400 m.

Sunday

Scattered flurries with 5 cm of snow, light wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for avalanche hazard to increase throughout the day.
  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.

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.