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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 22nd, 2023–Feb 23rd, 2023

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

Regions

Cariboos, Blue River, Clearwater, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Sugarbowl, Clemina, North Monashee, Renshaw, Robson.

Touchy wind slabs remain on atypical slopes due to strong northeast wind. Any incident in cold weather may be serious.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We received reports of a wind slab avalanche cycle caused by the northeast wind. The avalanches were large (size 2 to 3) and mostly on southeast to southwest slopes.

Looking forward, the cold weather may mean that newly formed wind slabs could remain human-triggerable for the coming days. These slabs are likely on atypical south to west aspects due to the northeast wind.

Snowpack Summary

Northeast wind produced touchy wind slabs in lee terrain features in wind-exposed terrain. Wind slabs are most prevalent on south to west aspects, which is atypical. These slabs may remain reactive for a few more days due to frigid weather limiting bonding.

A small layer of surface hoar crystals may be found below the 50 to 100 cm of storm snow from the past week, particularly in areas sheltered from the wind around treeline.

Large and weak facets that formed in November are found near the base of the snowpack. Although the likelihood of triggering this layer is low at this time, the consequence of doing so would be high. This layer is most likely to be human-triggered in thin, rocky slopes at alpine and upper treeline elevations.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -26 °C.

Thursday

Mostly clear skies with no precipitation, 10 to 20 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -25 °C.

Friday

Increasing clouds with no precipitation, 20 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature - 20 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -14 °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.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.