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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 14th, 2023–Feb 15th, 2023

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

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Wind slabs are becoming stubborn to trigger, anticipate slopes where wind slabs may be lingering, and don't commit to a steep slope if it feels dense or stiff.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Following a dynamic period of storm and wind slab avalanche releases, reports of avalanche activity on these layers have tapered.

Going forward we expect new wind slabs will be formed with snow available for transport and increasing winds. These new wind slabs may be triggered by riders in lee terrain features like ridges and ribs.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack continues to settle and bond to previous surfaces. Wind slabs can still be found at upper elevations directly lee of terrain features like ridges.

The mid-pack is showing signs of strengthening. A surface hoar layer down roughly 60 to 80 cm has not produced avalanches recently but can still be found in isolated terrain features specifically sheltered, treeline, and upper below treeline.

The lower snowpack is composed of large and weak facets from November located near the base of the snowpack. Although this layer hasn't produced avalanches recently, it continues to guide terrain selection by professionals in the region.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Mostly clear skies, trace accumulations, with 5 to 10 km/h southwest winds, treeline temperatures -12 °C

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud, increasing overnight, 2 to 4 cm new snow, with 10 to 15 km/h southwest, treeline temperatures -10 °C.

Thursday

Mainly cloudy, 5 to 10 cm new snow, 5 to 10 km/h south winds, treeline temperatures -10 °C.

Friday

Cloudy, trace accumulation, 20 to 30 km/h southwest winds, treeline temperatures -10 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.