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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2022–Feb 24th, 2022

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

Regions

Purcells.

Watch for pockets of wind slab on various aspects as you transition into exposed terrain around ridgelines. 

These slabs may have formed on top of old crusts and hard wind-pressed snow and there is uncertainty about how quickly they will bond to old surfaces.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Light flurries possible, light west to northwest winds. Alpine lows of -20.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with light northwest winds. Alpine highs of -10. 

FRIDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, light southwest winds and alpine highs of -9.

SATURDAY: Sunny, moderate southwest wind, alpine highs of -7.

Avalanche Summary

With clearing on Tuesday there was evidence of a natural avalanche cycle earlier in the week up to size 3 from deeper snowpack areas in the Purcells. On Tuesday there were also some small natural and skier-controlled wind slabs as well as a small remotely triggered wind slab reported. 

On Sunday in the Purcells there were a few natural storm slabs observed up to size 2. Also on Sunday around Quartz Creek there were shooting cracks and several small avalanches triggered by snowmobiles in steep unsupported northeast creek features. In the south of the region there a small wind slab reported from the backcountry around Panorama.

Snowpack Summary

Recent northeast winds have likely reverse loaded features forming wind slabs in unusual locations near ridgelines. In sheltered areas, 20-40 cm of recent snowfall sits over a mid-February drought layer consisting of melt-freeze crusts on solar aspects, and wind-pressed snow in other exposed terrain. A small layer of surface hoar may exist above the melt-freeze crust in sheltered areas in some locations.

Another layer of buried surface hoar sits 30-60 cm deep in the upper snowpack, most likely to be found and triggered on north aspects in sheltered areas. Though there haven't been reports of recent avalanches on this layer in this region, it is still on the radar of many operations and could potentially be triggered by large loads such as a cornice fall or a step-down avalanche. 

The lower snowpack is well consolidated, with a crust/facet layer found 100 to 150 cm deep. It is currently considered dormant but could become active later this season. Check out the forecaster blog for more information. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.

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.