Avalanche forecast

Cirrus-Wilson

Feb 11 – 12, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The snow pack needs time to adjust to the new load it just received.

Keep your terrain choices conservative, and avoid large overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Strong SW winds continue to move all the new snow that fell over the last few days, forming wind slabs in lee and cross loaded features.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Recent avalanche control had several large avalanche stepping down to this layer. The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several size 3 natural avalanches out of alpine features have been observed in the last few days.

Avalanche control with explosives on Wednesday resulted in numerous avalanches with several of them being size 3 running to the bottom of the avalanche paths.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Another 5-10cm has fallen on the 20 to 30cm of snow that fell over the last few days. Strong south west winds continue to redistribute all this snow, and have created thick wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line. Generally, the mid and bottom of the snowpack is weak facets with depth hoar at the base.

Weather Summary

A short break in the weather on Saturday before precipitation, rising temperatures, and very strong winds arrive on Sunday.

Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Regions covered