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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2024–Feb 16th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Flathead, Lizard.

Slab avalanches have been reactive to human triggers. This is most likely where the snow is wind affected.

Choose smaller test slopes before committing to large features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, a size 2 wind slab was skier-triggered on a SE aspect at 1950 m elevation. Many large (size 2) storm slab avalanche were triggered utilizing explosives near Fernie. All of these avalanches occurred in the alpine on all aspects, with the exception of northwest.

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

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 clear skies, 15 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday

Mostly clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday

Clear skies, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Light flurries 1 to 5 cm. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °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.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.