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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2024–Feb 12th, 2024

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Choose sheltered terrain, and give the new snow time to bond to the old surface.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent reports have been limited.

We expect that with recent snow and rain, human-triggered avalanches will be possible.

If you do go into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Storm totals are expected to reach 30 cm at upper elevations, with moderate to strong southwest winds forming deeper, more reactive slabs on north- and east-facing slopes. At the treeline, especially around Heather Mountain and Peak 5040, precipitation is expected to have fallen as rain, leaving moist surface snow up to 1000 m.

Underneath the new snow, around 5 cm of settling or wet snow sits on a thick, hard, melt-freeze crust that is present up to mountain tops in most areas.

Below treeline, most areas are below the threshold for forming avalanches.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 mm falling as snow above 1000 m, greatest amounts in the south. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m dropping to 900 m overnight.

Monday

Sunny. 15 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Tuesday

A few clouds. 10 km/h north ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

A few clouds. 40 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level drops to 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

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.