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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 20th, 2022–Feb 21st, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

The storm produced up to 25 cm of new snow and temperatures are staying cool. Storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering, especially in wind exposed terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around 500 m, no new snow expected, light northeast wind at most elevations with moderate gusts at ridge top.

MONDAY: Broken cloud cover in the morning giving way to clear skies in the afternoon, no new snow expected, light northeast wind, daytime high temperature at 1200 m around 0 C.

TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover in the morning giving way to clear skies in the afternoon, no new snow expected, light to moderate east/northeast wind, daytime high temperature at 1200 m around -2 C.

WEDNESDAY: Scattered cloud cover, no new snow expected, light to moderate northwest wind, daytime high temperature at 1200 m around -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

Wind and storm slabs likely formed Saturday night into Sunday.

A few small loose dry avalanches were reported Saturday before the bulk of the snow fell.

Snowpack Summary

The weekend storm produced up to 25 cm of new snow and most of that fell with very little wind.

The mid February crust is down 20 to 40cm and exists on all aspects and elevations.

The late-January melt-freeze crust is now down around 70 cm and is reported to be knife hard and up to 30 cm thick. This crust extends to at least the top of treeline and is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow. 

The middle and lower snowpack are considered well settled and strong.

Terrain and Travel

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

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.