Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 24th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ahanna, Avalanche Canada

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Watch for fresh, reactive wind slabs forming in lee terrain features at upper elevations.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations since Thursday when a small (size 1) wind slab was triggered by a sledder in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Small amounts of new snow falls over faceted and wind-affected surfaces. At upper elevations, west winds are redistributing the new snow into fresh wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Older, hard wind slabs sit over weak faceted crystals and a crust, 20 to 30 cm below the surface.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

Around 5 cm overnight then clearing to a mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Small amounts of new snow and wind are forming fresh wind slabs in lee terrain features. They may be especially reactive where they sit over a variety of weak grain types and/or hard surfaces.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 25th, 2024 4:00PM