Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2025–Feb 16th, 2025

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 unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Brandywine, Garibaldi, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Continue to assess steep lines for wind slab

Light snowfall and south wind may have formed small wind slabs near ridge crests

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday and Friday explosives triggered 2 size 1 wind slab avalanches. No other new avalanches were reported by the time of publishing.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of new snow may accumulate by Sunday morning. This new snow will be accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds forming wind slab on north aspects. In sheltered terrain this new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar. In exposed terrain it will overlie a sun crust or wind-affected snow.

A weak layer that was buried at the end of January is down 30 to 80 cm in the snowpack. Depending on where you are, it'll be a combo of different crystals. With crusts on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots.

The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 25 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of snow. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

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.