Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2024–Feb 19th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Use extra caution in the alpine where rider triggerable wind slabs could still be found.

On the North Shore a diminishing snowpack will make for challenging travel.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been observed in the North Shore mountains.

A small (size 1) wind slab was triggered by a skier near Powell River on Wednesday (see photo). Because of the weak grains wind slabs have formed over, this type of reactivity is expected to persist.

Snowpack Summary

A surface crust exists to the top of the North Shore mountains.

Higher elevations in other parts of the region have widespread wind-affected surfaces and the potential for wind slab over facets. The snow surface will likely become moist throughout the day.

Conditions remain rugged at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Sky clearing throughout the night with trace amounts of new snow possible in the alpine. 10 to 20 km/h southeast alpine wind. Freezing level around 1600 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 km/h southeast alpine wind.  Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 km/h southeast alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow possible in the alpine. 5 to 15 km/h southeast alpine wind. Freezing level around 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.