Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 14th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada jpercival, Avalanche Canada

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Watch for signs of instability, like shooting cracks, as you move into steeper terrain.

Choose smaller test slopes before committing to large features.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a size 2 wind slab was skier-triggered on a SE aspect at 1950 m elevation. A large (size 2) storm slab avalanche was triggered utilizing explosives near Fernie. It was initiated on a NE aspect and ran 500 meters.

Several small (size 1-1.5) storm slab avalanches were triggered with explosives near Fernie on Tuesday.

Numerous explosive and rider-triggered large (size 2) storm slabs were reported near Fernie on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 30 cm of recent snow adds on top of the early February rain crust now buried 40 to 50 cm deep, which seems well-bonded at lower elevations but isn't bonding well at higher elevations.

There are crusts and facets in the mid and lower snowpack but have not produced any recent avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy. 10-15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, light flurries 1 to 5 cm. 15 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Friday

Mostly clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Saturday

Clear skies. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Storm snow is starting to settle and bond but remains reactive in some areas, particularly wind-exposed terrain. Test on small features before committing to larger terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 15th, 2024 4:00PM

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