Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 11th, 2023–Feb 12th, 2023

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Cirrus-Wilson, Icefields.

The incoming weather system is expected to raise the avalanche hazard over the next couple days.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches up to size 2.5 continue to be observed in the icefields region, initiating in alpine and exposed tree line features.

Avalanche control with explosives on Wednesday resulted in numerous avalanches with several of them being size 3 running to the bottom of the avalanche paths.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Strong south west winds continue to redistribute the 10 to 30cm that fell over the last week, and have created thick wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line. Generally, the mid and bottom of the snowpack is weak facets with depth hoar at the base.

Weather Summary

A low pressure system moving through BC will bring rising temperatures and strong winds on Sunday, with most precipitation beginning Sunday night.

Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Numerous large natural and explosive triggered avalanches in the past week have run on this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Strong SW winds continue to move all the new snow that fell over the last few days, forming wind slabs in lee and cross loaded features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Loose Wet

Watch out for loose wet avalanches initiating on solar aspects at lower elevations as temperatures rise.

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

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5