Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 11th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
rgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Wind slabs will have formed throughout our region.
Use caution as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Only one avalanche was reported on Friday. It was a small storm slab that was triggered with a ski cut. Snowpack test reports have shown that there may be instability within the storm snow that fell this past week.
Please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Around 45 of recent snow now sits on a variety of surfaces. It will have been redistributed at higher elevations by southerly winds.
A melt-freeze crust formed in mid-January is now buried 60 to 80 cm deep. At the moment this layer is gaining strength. The snow below this layer is consolidating nicely. Buried up to 120 cm is another layer of concern, a crust, formed near the end of December.
Snowpack depths are below seasonal averages. Total amounts range from 150 to 200 cm at treeline, but decrease significantly below 1500 m.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, trace accumulation, winds west southwest 25 to 30 km/h, treeline -6 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, up to 10 cm accumulation starting in the later in the day and continuing into the evening, winds southwest 25 to 40 km/h, treeline -2 °C.
Monday
Cloudy, 5 to 10 cm accumulation, winds southwest 45 km/h, treeline -5 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation ending by morning, winds north 20 to 30 km/h, treeline -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate to strong southerly winds will have developed fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. Expect to find wind slabs in exposed areas below the treeline as well.
Wind slabs may be sitting on a crust making them especially reactive to ridder triggering.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 12th, 2023 4:00PM
