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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2023–Feb 18th, 2023

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie.

Avalanche Danger is low but don't let your guard down. If you find yourself in an area where stiff, old wind slabs still exist use extra caution. Your best bet for finding soft snow is in sheltered terrain features most likely on north aspects.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in this region. That being said, older wind slabs still linger extra caution should be used if you encounter stiff snow on steep slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar is growing on the top of the snowpack in many areas. The snow is quite variable in the area consisting of either wind slabs or wind pressed snow, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and some better quality snow in sheltered areas.

The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated and stiff and contains persistent layers which have not produced avalanches in quite a long time.

The lower snowpack consists of weak, sugary crystals which have been slowly gaining strength.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with flurries. Wind from the southwest at 10 km/h. Temperature -5˚C.

Saturday

Cloudy early and clearing into the late afternoon. 5 cm of new snow in the morning. Wind from the southwest 10 km/h. Temperature -4˚C.

Sunday

Clouds building through the day. 5 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest 5 km/h. Temperature -6˚C to -2˚C.

Monday

Cloudy. 5 - 10 cm of new snow mostly coming later in the day. Wind from the south at 10 - 15 km/h. Temperature -5˚C rising to +1˚C by the afternoon.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.