Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 23rd, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada ahanna, Avalanche Canada

Email

With new snow and wind in the forecast, fresh reactive wind slabs will be the the main character this weekend.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations since Thursday when a small (size 1) wind slab was triggered by a sledder. It occurred on a steep alpine slope where a firm wind slab sat atop a weak faceted, shallow snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

Small amounts of new snow falls over faceted and wind-affected surfaces. Winds will redistribute any loose surface snow into lee terrain features.

In steep, exposed alpine terrain, old, hard wind slabs may sit over weak faceted crystals and a crust, down roughly 20 to 30 cm from the surface.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with a trace of snow. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

5-10 cm overnight then clearing to a mix of sun and cloud. <20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Small amounts of new snow and wind are forming fresh wind slabs in lee terrain features. They may be especially reactive where they sit over a variety of weak grain types and/or hard surfaces.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 24th, 2024 4:00PM