Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 14th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Avalanches are possible in wind-loaded areas at treeline and above. Winds have changed directions and built wind slabs on all aspects. Carefully evaluate wind loading as you move through terrain and investigate the bond of wind slabs to the crust below them before committing to a slope.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Monday afternoon, search and rescue technicians responded to a fatal avalanche incident north of the Sea to Sky region. The avalanche is believed to have occurred on Saturday and was initiated in a shallow rocky area. See the MIN for more details.
A skier remote triggered, size 2 avalanche was reported on a cross-loaded morainal feature. The group reported the avalanche as a soft wind slab over a crust. The slope fractured 30 m above the group. See the MIN for more information.
A few small skier accidental storm slabs were reported, up to size 1. A few size 1 loose dry avalanches were observed in steep rocky terrain.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of recent storm snow overlies wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations and a crust at lower elevations. On solar steep slopes, a new sun crust has formed on the surface.
A melt-freeze crust from late January is found down 60-80 cm. At the moment this layer appears to be gaining strength though in isolated areas small facets are still found surrounding the crust.
The snowpack in this region is generally weak and shallow with sugary snow near the base. Avoid areas where snowpack depth varies rapidly like thin rocky start zones. Snowpack depths around treeline range between 150 to 250 cm.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Clear skies. Winds north switching to the west 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom.
Wednesday
Mainly sunny with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Winds west 10 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 600 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Winds southwest 25 km/h gusting to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Overnight flurries bring 2-3 cm accumulation.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 2 cm accumulation. Winds west 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Northerly winds are redistributing 10-20 cm of storm snow into lees on south slopes. Watch for areas that have been reverse-loaded and cross-loaded.
On Wednesday winds change to southwesterly and will begin building fresh wind slabs on north and east slopes. Look for fresh windslab development as you travel to higher elevations. Wind slabs may be sitting on a crust making them especially reactive to ridder triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 15th, 2023 4:00PM
