Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

Avalanche Canada jpercival, Avalanche Canada

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Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Recent variable winds created reactive wind slabs on all aspects that have produced several natural and human-triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 in recent days. The wind that is accompanying Saturday night's storm should be expected to produce wind and storm slabs of equal reactivity this weekend.

Observations on Tuesday reported natural avalanche activity that produced avalanches that ranged in size between 1.5 and 4. Our field team reported witnessing several wind slab avalanches up to size 2.5 in extremely steep terrain. Local operators reported wind slab, storm slab, and persistent and deep persistent slab avalanches. The persistent and deep persistent layers have been relatively quiet since February 16th. This is a good reminder that they could still be reactive in certain locations.

On Sunday, a notable skier accidental size 2 storm slab occurred in the backcountry near Terrace. See details in the MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

New snow will be falling on wind slabs created earlier this week. These wind slabs can be found on all aspects and at most elevations.

Up to 80 cm now sits over a layer of small surface hoar, facets, and wind-affected surfaces.

A crust from late January exists around 140 to 180 cm below the surface. Beneath the crust, the snowpack is generally consolidated but as you move further inland there are instabilities found near the ground where the snowpack is thinner.

The total height of snow varies between 450 cm near the coast and 250 cm further inland.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy, snowfall begins to taper up to 5 to 10 cm of accumulation, winds southwest 10 km/h gusting to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures around -9 ºC.

Sunday

Cloudy with possible late-day sunny periods, 1 to 5 cm accumulation, winds, west south 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -9 ºC.

Monday

Cloudy with late day sun, trace accumulation, winds southwest 15 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 ºC.

Tuesday

Cloudy with late day sun, 1 to 5 cm of accumulation, winds northeast 15 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -12 ºC.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

By Sunday morning much of our region will see significant snowfall amounts. Storm slabs should be expected.

Winds associated with this system will be moving around whatever snow is available so you should also expect deeper-than-expected deposits of snow that will also be reactive.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Up to 30 cm of new low density light and dry snow overlies stiff old surfaces.

Expect that dry loose avalanches will be certain on very steep terrain. Even a small loose dry avalanche can have enough mass to push a person into or over a terrain trap such as a cliff or depression.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Certain

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2023 4:00PM

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