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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2022–Feb 28th, 2022

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

Vancouver Island.

Heavy and steady precipitation with strong winds will continue to develop significant storm slabs, especially in lee areas in the alpine and at treeline. It is a good day to stay away from avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

A series of weather systems are set to hit BC in the next few days bringing precipitations, mild air and strong mountaintop winds.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Snow, 15-25 cm, 40-60 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline low temperature 0 C, freezing level at 1200 m.

MONDAY: Snow turning to rain, 15-30 mm, 50-70 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline high temperature +4 C, freezing level at 2000 m.

TUESDAY: Snow mixed with rain, 15-30 cm, 50-70 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline high temperature 0 C, freezing level at 1300 m.

WEDNESDAY: Snow mixed with rain, 15-25 cm, 40-60 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline high temperature -1 C, freezing level at 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural and triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

About 40 to 60 cm of storm snow is covering a variety of surfaces including the widespread mid-February crust, wind affected snow and pockets of wind slab in exposed high elevation terrain, a suncrust on solar aspects, low density facetted snow on northerly slopes and spotty surface hoar in very sheltered lower elevations. It is unknow how this new snow will bond to the previous surfaces but we are expecting it will not bond very well.

The prominent late-January crust is now down 20-60 cm and is well bonded to the surrounding snow. The mid and lower snowpack is considered well settled and strong. Shallow snow cover at low elevations leaves many hazards like stumps and creeks exposed at or just below the snow surface.

Terrain and Travel

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

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.