Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2022–Feb 28th, 2022

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

Regions

North Columbia.

Stormy day ! Traveling in alpine terrain is NOT recommended. As avalanche hazard will increase throughout the day, choosing simple terrain is our best strategy.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

A series of storms are set to hit the region in the next few days. Moderate to heavy snowfalls, rising freezing levels, and warmers temperatures are expected until mid-week. The south part of the region, near Revelstoke, will receive the heaviest amounts of snowfalls.

Sunday night: Snow 5-10 cm overnight. Freezing level around 600 m. Alpine temperatures around -6 C. Moderate southwesterly winds gusting 50 km/h.

Monday: Snow 10-15 cm + 20-30 cm overnight. Freezing level rising to 1000 m. Alpine temperatures around -4 C. Moderate southwesterly winds gusting 50 km/h.

Tuesday: Snow 5-10 cm. Freezing level rising to 1600 m. Alpine temperatures around -2 C. Strong southerly winds gusting 65 km/h.

Wednesday: Flurries. Freezing level rising to 1400 m. Alpine temperatures around -4 C. Moderate southerly winds gusting 45 km/h.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday, recently formed wind slabs were showing signs of instability and propagation on specific features at treeline as skiers were able to produce large (size 2) slabs while skiing. Several natural wind slabs avalanches(up to size 2) were also reported in the Monashees. 

In the neighbouring region of South Columbia, rider-triggered and natural persistent slabs activity (up to size 3) have been reported in the last few days. 

With the current storm, avalanche activity will likely increase, and a natural cycle is expected late Monday / early Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

15-25 cm of fresh snow has fallen Sunday throughout the region, with favoured amounts in the Monashees. This new snow is now burying a variety of surfaces including heavily wind-affected surfaces on most alpine slopes, fresh wind slabs on any open features, thin sun crust on steep south-facing slopes at all elevations, and widespread large feathery surface hoar crystal on sheltered areas. Below ~1200 m, 35-55 cm of snow is now overlying a thick melt-freeze crust. 

Two weak layers exist within the upper snowpack: the mid-February layer (down 70 to 120 cm) and the mid-January layer (down 100 cm). They both consist of surface hoar / melt-freeze crust. Although reactivity of these layers had tapered off lately, they should be treated with extra caution with this incoming series of snowfalls as they may produce large, unexpected avalanches.

Terrain and Travel

  • Travel in alpine terrain is not recommended.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Good day to make conservative terrain choices.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.