Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 16th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

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Human-triggerable wind slabs can be found in the region's highest elevations where the hard early February crust is buried by wind-transported snow.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been observed in the North Shore mountains.

A small (size 1) wind slab was triggered by a skier near Powell River on Wednesday (see photo).

Snowpack Summary

A surface crust exists to the top of the North Shore mountains, while higher elevations in other parts of the region have heavily wind-affected surfaces.

Conditions remain rugged at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Clear. Southeast or east alpine winds 35-40 km/h. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.

Saturday

Becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Southeast alpine wind 25-35 km/h. Treeline temperature +3 °C with freezing level around 1800 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with wet flurries bringing up to 5 cm of high elevation snow, light rain below about 1200 m. South alpine winds 30-40 km/h. Treeline temperature reaching 0°C with freezing level climbing to 1400 m.

Monday

Cloudy with isolated alpine flurries, light rain below about 1400 m. East alpine wind 10-20 km/h. Treeline temperature +2 with freezing level reaching 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Northerly outflow wind has formed small wind slabs on some alpine features.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Daytime warming will rob cohesion from surface layers and promote wet loose avalanche conditions in steep, sun-exposed terrain, particularly in the alpine.

Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 17th, 2024 4:00PM

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