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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2024–Feb 19th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Watch for wind-loaded pockets, especially around north and east-facing ridgecrests and in extreme terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A skier accidentally triggered an small (size 1) wind slab avalanche on Friday on Mt. Joan. Check out this MIN for full details.

Snowpack Summary

Around 2-8 cm of recent snow has fallen at upper elevations. This snow sits on a variety of surfaces, including a crust on sun-exposed slopes, old wind slabs, and up to 20 cm of soft faceted snow in sheltered northerly terrain. In isolated areas, wind slabs may be more reactive where they overlie facets and surface hoar. The mid-pack contains several other crusts and layers of moist rounded grains.

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

Check out this latest MIN for more info

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with trace amounts of snow / very light rain, 25-30 km/h southeast alpine wind, treeline temperature 0°C, freezing level between 1300-1600m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow, 20 km/h southerly alpine wind, treeline temperature 2°C, freezing levels 1700 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, with a trace to 2 cm of new snow / very light rain, 15 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 2°C, freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with a trace to 2 cm of snow / very light rain, 20 km/h southeast alpine wind, treeline temperature 2°C, freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

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.