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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 26th, 2024–Feb 27th, 2024

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Esplanade, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

It remains likely for humans to trigger high-consequence avalanches. Conservative decision making is essential.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many avalanches were observed during the weekend's stormy weather. Many of them were small to large (size 1 to 2) storm slabs occurring on all aspects at treeline and alpine elevations. A few large to very large (size 2 to 4) persistent slab avalanches occurred on the facets above the melt-freeze crust described in the Snowpack Summary, being 60 to 100 cm deep on north to west aspects at treeline and alpine elevations.

Riders could trigger similar avalanches going forward.

Snowpack Summary

40 to 70 cm of recent snow sits on a variety of layers that it may not bond well to, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed south and west-facing slopes. The wind has likely formed thicker deposits in lee terrain features near ridges.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried 60 to 120 cm deep and is found up to around 2400 m. This crust may have a layer of facets above it, which makes it a troublesome avalanche layer.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 15 to 30 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 15 to 30 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use careful route-finding and stick to moderate slope angles with low consequences.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.