Avalanche Forecast
North Columbia
New snow accumulations are likely to become increasingly reactive as warming and solar radiation increase over the day. Increase your caution around sun-exposed slopes as well as wind loaded areas.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize your exposure to any sun exposed slopes.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Large cornice failures have been reported in the past week. A cornice collapse may have the potential to trigger a deep weak layer resulting in a very large and destructive avalanche.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Cornices weaken with sun and daytime heating. Minimize your exposure to large cornices overhead.
Avalanche Problem 3: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Daytime warming and sun exposure will promote natural loose wet avalanche activity on Sunday - especially around steep sun-exposed terrain.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Thursday were limited to a couple of size 2 storm and wind slabs, 30 and 50 cm deep, respectively. The storm slab released naturally while the wind slab was ski cut from a steeper north aspect in the alpine.
Tuesday's reports included observations of numerous natural wind slab release from size 1-2 on north through east aspects in the alpine. A skier triggered size 2 storm slab resulted in a near miss. Another recent very large (size 3.5) storm slab was also observed to have released on a large, wind-loaded alpine feature.
Reports from Monday were limited by poor visibility but included one small (size 1, 20 cm deep) ski cut wind slab as well as skier-triggered loose snow releases on steeper slopes. The rough dividing line between loose wet and loose dry activity was about 2000 metres.
In addition to heightened storm slab activity following regular snowfalls, observations from late last week also showed a pattern of heightened cornice failure activity.
Looking forward, sunshine and warming temperatures are expected to initiate a natural avalanche cycle limited to the new snow. The same warming may also cause natural cornice collapses.
Snowpack Summary
10-15 cm of new snow has accumulated above a melt freeze crust found on the previous surface on all but north aspects above about 2200 metres. Below it, about 50-70 cm of settled storm snow overlies a supportive crust which shares similar distribution to the upper crust.
Within this storm snow there are a few different crusts with the shallowest of these (down about 20-40 cm) now a limited concern as recent warm temperatures have promoted settlement and bonding in the upper snowpack.
With warm daytime temperatures and poor overnight recovery of cold temperatures, there is some lingering concern around the mid-March weak layer in the alpine where it is found 90 to 120 cm deep. This buried crust/surface hoar layer was widely reactive but is now trending towards dormancy. It should be kept in the back of our minds for its capability to produce large avalanches should it be triggered with a heavy load such as a cornice collapse.
Deeper persistent weak layers from December and January are generally considered dormant at this time but may be reactive to very large triggers.
Weather Forecast
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light west winds. Freezing level to 1600 metres with alpine high temperatures around -6.
Monday: Mainly sunny. Light southeast winds. Freezing level to 2200 metres and rising overnight. Alpine high temperatures around 0.
Tuesday: Mainly sunny. Light south winds. Freezing level to 2700 metres with alpine high temperatures around +3.
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New snow and strong winds have formed new wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. Slabs are likely to remain reactive over the near term and reactivity is likely to increase with daytime warming on Sunday.