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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 19th, 2020–Feb 20th, 2020

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.

As you travel, use added caution on steep slopes in open trees, as the snow may rest on surface hoar. This layer may be most problematic around Kootenay Pass. At higher elevations, you may also find slabs in wind-loaded features.

Confidence

High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level below valley bottom.

THURSDAY: Clear skies, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1200 m.

FRIDAY: Clear skies, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1000 m.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few more slab avalanches were reported in the region on Tuesday. They mostly happened around Kootenay Pass and released on the surface hoar layer described in the Snowpack Summary. They have been releasing in sheltered terrain in open trees at and just below treeline. There are great examples of these avalanches on the MIN, summarized here.

Snowpack Summary

A 20 to 30 cm thick slab has been reactive to human traffic in the past few days. The slab may overly a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals in open trees. In the alpine near ridges, the slab has been most reactive on north to east to south aspects due to wind transportation. On south aspects, sunny skies have melted the surface snow, which will be wet during the daytime heat and freeze into a melt-freeze crust during the night.

A few other crusts exist in the top 100 cm of the snowpack; reports suggest that the overlying snow is bonding well to them.

Terrain and Travel

  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.

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.