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 23rd, 2023–Feb 24th, 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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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 may be found on all aspects. The consequence of any incident in cold weather could be serious.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many small to large (size 1 to 2.5) wind slabs were triggered naturally and by riders on Wednesday. They mostly occurred on south to west aspects at alpine elevations.

A few very large (size 3.5 to 4) deep persistent slab avalanches were observed, which likely occurred from rapid snow loading with strong wind over the past few days.

Looking forward, the cold weather may mean that wind slabs could remain human-triggerable for the coming days.

Snowpack Summary

Northeast wind produced touchy wind slabs in lee terrain features in wind-exposed terrain. The wind is switching to the southwest, which may form new wind slabs in lee terrain features. This means that wind slabs may be found on all aspects. These slabs may remain reactive for a few more days due to frigid weather limiting bonding.

A small layer of surface hoar crystals may be found below the 50 to 100 cm of storm snow from the past week, particularly in areas sheltered from the wind around treeline.

Large and weak facets that formed in November are found near the base of the snowpack. Although the likelihood of triggering this layer is low at this time, the consequence of doing so would be high. This layer is most likely to be human-triggered in thin, rocky slopes at alpine and upper treeline elevations.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, 10 to 20 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -23 °C.

Friday

Increasing clouds with no precipitation, 20 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature - 21 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -15 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -14 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.