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 18th, 2024–Feb 19th, 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

North Columbia, South Columbia, Blue River, Clearwater, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Shuswap, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, North Okanagan, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Hard wind slabs are lingering longer than usual.

Be careful anywhere with wind-affected snow above a terrain trap.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday there were several small (size 1-1.5) rider-triggered wind slab avalanches in the alpine and a few at treeline. As well as a large (size 2) wind slab that was triggered by a cornice failing and landing on the slope.

Snowpack Summary

The alpine is generally wind-affected with a crust on slopes facing the sun. In sheltered terrain, 15 to 25 cm of snow overlies a variety of layers including a weak layer of small surface hoar and/or another thin sun crust on solar aspects.

The widespread crust buried in early February is down 30 to 50 cm and has sugary facets on top. In most places, this crust is widespread up to 2400 m.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday

Mostly clear skies. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy. 0 to 15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.

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.