Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 16th, 2024 2:15PM

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

Avalanche Canada matt, Avalanche Canada

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Beautiful days and good skiing are turning the season around for us. Gullies and couloirs will pose a sluffing/loose dry hazard given the cold temperatures and lack of wind.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Sluffing continues in very steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

If it wasn't for the low snow, the lack of wind would make you think we were somewhere other than K-Country. We are still seeing little to no wind affect at almost all elevations. the one exception would be high alpine (2500m+) ridges where isolated slabs will exist in the immediate lee. At treeline and low alpine elevations there's 20-25cm's of nice, facetted snow resting on top of the Feb crust. The crust itself is generally supportive, but in the odd place at treeline its breakable and sometimes challenging to ski. From an avalanche perspective, the crust isn't posing a problem other than allowing the surface snow to sluff in very steep terrain. The deeper layers aren't changing much. They are still a mix of facets and the older crust from earlier in the year.

Weather Summary

The roller coaster temperature swings will continue for a couple of days yet. Tonight's low will be -20 with a mid afternoon high of -3 for Saturday. Skies will remain clear and winds will be very light from the SW. A fine February forecast!

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Watch for these windslabs along ridgelines and gully features in alpine areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Be cautious for this layer in high alpine terrain. Thinner snowpack areas will be the places that this may be an issue.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 17th, 2024 4:00PM