Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Feb 20 – 21, 2022Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wind slabs likely remain triggerable in steep or convex terrain features and near ridgetops.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind slabs may remain sensitive to human triggers.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Cornices overhead are a primary concern during sunny, warm, or windy conditions. Cornice failures are dangerous on their own, but they also have potential to trigger large persistent slab avalanches that would otherwise be difficult to trigger.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, a trace of snow, moderate northwest wind, freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud, light northwest wind, high of -4.

Monday: Sunny, moderate northeast wind, high of -13.

Tuesday: Increasing cloud, flurries, strong northwest wind, high of -12.

Avalanche Summary

Natural and skier triggered wind slabs were reported up to size 1.5 on Thursday. On Friday, a single skier triggered size 1 wind slab was reported on a wind-loaded convexity near ridgetop at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow sits over a 10-20 cm thick, supportive rain crust. At upper elevations the recent snow has been extensively wind affected, with exposed windward features scoured down to the crust. Below 1300 m, moist surfaces will refreeze as temperatures drop this weekend. 

The thick rain crust effectively caps the underlying snowpack, making human triggering of avalanches on weak layers deeper in the snowpack very unlikely. Large cornice failures may still have potential to trigger these deeper layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.

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