Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 15th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada lbaker, Avalanche Canada

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South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Avalanches are possible on wind-loaded features in the alpine. Continually assess conditions as they change through the day. Carefully evaluate wind loading as you move through the terrain and investigate the bond of wind slabs to the crust below.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

There have been no new avalanches reported in the region for a week. Backcountry users should evidence of small point releases in steep rocky areas likely caused by strong solar radiation Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Flurries through the day accumulate over a variety of surfaces including thin wind slabs in the alpine, small surface hoar in sheltered areas and a breakable freezing rain crust between 1100 m and 1600 m, possibly higher.

A hard crust is found 60 to 80 cm deep. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is strong and consolidated.

Snowpack depths are reaching 230 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night 

Partly cloudy. Winds southwest 20 km/h gusting 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -6 °C and freezing levels 600 m. 

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 mm accumulation. Winds southwest 20 km/h gusting 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -5 °C and freezing levels 800 m. 

Overnight cloudy with flurries, 10-15 mm accumulation.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Winds west 20 km/h. Treeline temperatures -4 °C and freezing levels 800 m. 

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Winds northwest 60 km/h. Treeline temperatures -4 °C and freezing levels 800 m. 

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Although their spatial distribution is isolated, wind slabs are reactive.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Isolated wind slabs can still be found in exposed features in the alpine and may be reactive to human triggering. Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust. Investigate the bond between wind slabs and the layers below them before committing to a slope.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 16th, 2023 4:00PM

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