Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2024–Feb 24th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Winter is returning. Be ready to dial back your terrain selection if we exceed forecast snow totals or if you encounter early signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been observed in this region, but conditions have been changing in high alpine locations without observations as yet.

Conditions should take a more decisive move toward more widespread surface instabilities as new snow stacks up, especially where wind works to accelerate slab formation.

Snowpack Summary

Up to about 10 cm of new snow should accumulate in the region Friday night through Saturday.

In most areas with snow coverage, the new snow will bury rain-saturated and/or sun-affected surface snow which should be topped by crust by the time snow arrives. In a few high alpine locations, new snow may add to dry recent snow accumulations.

Aside from existing surface instabilities in these high alpine locations, and those emerging with forecast new snow, the snowpack is well consolidated, homogenous, and predominantly moist. Conditions remain rugged at lower elevations.

 

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h west or southwest alpine wind. Freezing level around 1200 - 1300 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing another 5 cm of new snow. 35-45 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C with freezing level falling to 1100 m, rising a bit in the evening.

Sunday

Cloudy with heavy snowfall bringing 30 - 40 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 60 - 75 km/h southwest alpine wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level to 1200 m.

Monday

Clearing, lingering flurries with 1 - 2 cm of new snow. 20-30 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -7 with freezing level to 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Snow is accumulating at higher elevations despite lower elevations being almost snow free
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

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.