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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 17th, 2024–Feb 18th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.

Spotting still-reactive wind slabs amid widespread wind effect can be tricky. Manage the uncertainty with lower slope angles if your search for sheltered snow comes up short.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Wind slab reactivity continues to be the focus in recent reports. A couple of recent size 3 (very large) wind slabs in the Hurley area and on the Joffre massif are notable, but mainly add emphasis to numerous other skier and remote-triggered wind slabs in the region on a range of aspects, mainly reaching to size 1.5.

These reactive conditions have been observed on a variety of aspects in the alpine and upper treeline in recent days and are expected to persist for some time.

Snowpack Summary

Wind and sun have created variable surface conditions, with northeast wind heavily impacting open terrain.

15 to 30 cm of snow sits above a widespread crust. Many areas have reported a weak surface hoar layer above this crust, which is very problematic in areas where wind has formed a slab above the layer.

Snowpack depths decrease rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Increasing cloud. South alpine winds 5 - 10 km/h. Freezing level returning to valley bottom.

Sunday

Cloudy. Southwest alpine wind 0 - 5 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C with freezing level rising to 1700 m

Monday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. Variable alpine winds 0-5 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. southwest alpine winds 0-5 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Suprising wind slab reactivity has been observed over the past several days with wind transported snow having formed slabs over weak grains and a hard crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2