Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 22nd, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada isnowsell, Avalanche Canada

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New snow and wind will create fresh slabs that likely sit atop various weak grains combined with crusts in the upper snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A couple of skier-triggered size 1 and 1.5 slab avalanches have been reported this week in the Terrace area. These avalanches occurred on north-facing terrain at treeline and above, failing on a facet/crust combination down roughly 20 to 30 cm from the surface.

Snowpack Summary

Snowfall is burying predominantly faceted and wind-affected surfaces. New snow may have buried surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on south-facing slopes.

A couple of crusts exist in the upper snowpack that have proven to be problematic sliding surfaces over the last couple of weeks.

Below, the mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 60 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 20 cm of snow. 60 to 80 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow and wind will build firm wind slabs that likely sit atop a variety of weak surfaces and hard crusts. If triggered wind slabs could step down to buried weak layers in the upper snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 23rd, 2024 4:00PM