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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2023–Feb 19th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Carefully assess conditions as you move through terrain. The underlying crust could make both wet loose and wind slab avalanches more likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday our field team observed evidence of a natural storm slab cycle to size 2. These avalanches were generally on northwest aspects at treeline. They ran on a recent crust.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 50cm of recent snow has fallen on a crust that likely extends to mountain tops on all aspects. Southwest winds have likely blown this new snow into wind slabs on north and east aspects in the alpine and scoured or pressed windward slopes. As the freezing level rises moist snow will likely be observed at lower elevations.

The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated and strong.

Check out this MIN from our field team for more details.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Increasing cloud with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate to strong northwest winds and temperatures at 1500m around -1.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong westerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1400m.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 10cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Moderate to strong westerly wind and freezing levels rising to 1500m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Moderate northerly winds and a high of -3 at 1500m.

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.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • 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.