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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 16th, 2023–Feb 17th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie.

A variety of snow surfaces from old wind slabs to crusts will greet you when you head out. The best way to avoid potential problems and find powder snow is to seek out sheltered terrain features like the ones in these recent MINs here and here.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A skier triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches was reported near Big White in this MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar is growing on the top of the snowpack in many areas. The snow is quite variable in the area consisting of either wind slabs or wind pressed snow, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and even some better quality snow in sheltered areas.

The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated and stiff and contains persistent layers which have not produced avalanches in quite a long time.

The lower snowpack consists of weak, sugary crystals which have been slowly gaining strength.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Increasing cloudiness through the night brining flurries and trace amounts of snow. Wind southwest at 10 km/h. Temperature -5˚C.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries bringing 5 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest 5 - 10 km/h. Temperature -5˚C.

Saturday

Beginning cloudy and clearing in the late afternoon. Early flurries will bring 2 - 4 cm of snow. Wind from the southwest 10 km/h in the morning going to the north at 10 km/h in the afternoon. Temperatures -5˚C in the morning rising to -2˚C in the afternoon.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. No precipitation. Variable light winds. Temperature -10˚C in the morning rising to -2˚C in the afternoon.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.