Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Recent snowfall combined with wind switching direction is promoting the formation of new wind slabs on a variety of aspects.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapSouth Coast
Feb 21 – 22, 2023Avalanche Canada
Archived · expired 4 years ago
Avalanche danger
Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Highlights
There is uncertainty with precipitation amounts overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. Regardless, with winds expected to blow moderate to strong from the southwest, wind slabs will be the main concern.
Avalanche problems
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, a few size1 windslabs avalanches were triggered during travel on skis. These windslabs were located on north aspect terrain near 1600 m elevation.
Snowpack Summary
New snow from the past several days has accumulated over a variety of old surfaces including wind slabs in the alpine and a breakable freezing rain crust between 1100 m and 1600 m.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.
Snowpack depths are reaching 250 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5-20cm. Higher amounts possible on the eastern end of the region. Wind moderate to strong northwest. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Tuesday
Clearing with isolated flurries, accumulation 1-3cm. Wind light to moderate north. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 400 m.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy. Wind moderate northeast. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud. Wind moderate northeast wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.