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 7th, 2022–Feb 8th, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Continual stormy conditions are keeping danger elevated for the region. The worst is likely yet to come!

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 600 m.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with snow and rain, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 800 m.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with rain, accumulation 20 to 40 mm, 70 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature 3 C, freezing level 2000 to 2500 m.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with rain switching to snow then clearing, accumulation 20 to 40 cm at high elevations, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level dropping to 800 m.

Avalanche Summary

Many storm and wind slab avalanches were observed over the weekend, often releasing naturally during the stormy weather. Check out this MIN for examples near Shames. At low elevations, small loose avalanches were reported during periods of warm weather and rain. 

Although reports aren't in yet, we expect to see many more similar avalanches from Monday's storm. The trend is expected to continue and perhaps worsen as the region gets hammered by more snow, rain, and strong wind in the coming days.

Snowpack Summary

The region is currently receiving around 10 to 30 cm of snow per 24-hour period, with associated strong southwest wind. Expect to find deep and touchy storm slabs in areas sheltered from the wind and new wind slabs in exposed terrain. Also expect cornices to be very large and touchy. Below around 800 m, the precipitation is falling as rain, soaking an already wet snowpack.

New snow will sit on previous storm snow that has totaled around 50 to 80 cm since early February above around 800 to 1000 m. All of this February snow may sit on a weak layer of surface hoar crystals, particularly around treeline elevations in terrain features sheltered from the wind. This layer may be found immediately above a hard melt-freeze crust.

Deeper in the snowpack, another surface hoar layer from mid-January may be found around 80 to 120 cm deep at higher elevations in sheltered terrain. This layer is most problematic where it overlies a hard melt-freeze crust.

Terrain and Travel

  • Travel in alpine terrain is not recommended.
  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.