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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2023–Feb 12th, 2023

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Moyie.

Pay attention to the direction of the wind as you travel through wind exposed areas – wind slabs are the main concern.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Skiers have triggered small (size 1) slab avalanches in the top 20 to 30 cm of snow since Wednesday, as nicely illustrated in this MIN report. Larger storm and wind slab avalanches (size 2 to 2.5) were observed along ridges immediately after the storm on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions are variable and include sun crusts, surface hoar, and wind-affected snow. Sheltered areas have 20 to 30 cm of soft snow from earlier this week.

In terrain sheltered from the wind, small surface hoar crystals may be found 50 to 90 cm from the surface. At a similar depth, you may also find a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and below 1900 m.

The lower snowpack contains weak and faceted grains. Deeper weak layers in the snowpack have not recently produced avalanches, but they may become reactive again if there is a rapid change in the weather.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Clear skies, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures cool to -8 ºC.

Sunday

Sunny periods in the morning then increasing cloud in the afternoon, 30 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures warm to -2 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing 5 to 10 cm of snow, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -4 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, no precipitation, 30 km/h north wind, treeline temperatures around -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.