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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 15th, 2024–Feb 16th, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Watch for windloading in unusual places. Moderate to strong NE winds have had no problem pushing the low density surface snow into slopes that aren't typically loaded.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

There were a couple large natural avalanches from the steep terrain on Mt. MacDonald overnight.

There were two reported skier triggered avalanches recently. One on Terminal Pk and the other in the Connaught drainage. They were both slabs within the recent storm snow that ran approximately 150 meters.

Snowpack Summary

Strong NE winds (possibly less prevalent in the Southeast of the park) redistributed the 20-40cms of low density snow we'd been enjoying. A buried crust (from Feb 2nd - widespread below 2500m), sits under windslabs in lee terrain, and has been stripped of snow in exposed windward slopes.

Below treeline, up to 10cm of low density snow covers a variety of crusts, frozen avalanche debris, and shallow snowpack hazards.

Warm temps have strengthened the mid and lower snowpack.

Weather Summary

Ongoing high pressure. Expect a cold start to the day, and clear skies.

Tonight: Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine low -12°C. Light E ridgetop winds.

Friday: Sunny w cloudy periods. Alpine high -6°C. Light SE winds. Freezing level (FZL) 1300m

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low -4°C, High -2°C. Light SE wind. FZL 1700m.

Sunday: Isolated flurries. Low -8°C, High -3°C. Light ridge wind. FZL 1400m.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.