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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 21st, 2022–Feb 22nd, 2022

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

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Wind slabs have been reactive to human triggers in recent days. As you enter wind affected terrain, watch for wind slabs on all aspects especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Confidence

Moderate - Recent weather patterns have resulted in a high degree of snowpack variability within the region.

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Clear, moderate northeast wind, low of -23.

Tuesday: Increasing cloud in the afternoon, northeast wind shifting northwest and building to strong, high of -12.

Wednesday: Around 5 cm overnight then clearing, wind easing to moderate northwest, high of -7.

Thursday: Sunny, light northwest wind, high of -5.

Avalanche Summary

Natural wind slabs size 1-2 were observed on a northeast aspects in the alpine during the strong wind event on Saturday.

Several skier triggered wind slabs size 1-1.5 have been reported over the past few days, most in predictably wind loaded lees or convexities, near ridgetop, around treeline or higher. On Saturday near Kispiox, a size 1.5 was accidentally triggered on a previously skied slope and ran surprisingly far on the underlying crust.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow has seen variable wind effect at upper elevations, with exposed windward features scoured down to the crust in some areas in the Babines. Good snow quality can still be found in sheltered terrain.

The recent snow sits over a 10-20 cm thick rain crust which effectively caps the underlying snowpack, making human triggering of avalanches on weak layers deeper in the snowpack very unlikely. Large cornice failures may still have potential to trigger these deeper layers.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

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.