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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 20th, 2023–Feb 21st, 2023

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

Regions

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

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.

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.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.