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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2020–Feb 10th, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

The wind shifted to a northerly direction loading lee terrain features on all aspects. Wind slabs might still be sensitive to human triggers. Be careful when transitioning into wind affected terrain. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Sunday Night: Cloudy, moderate northwest wind, alpine high -8 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday: Sunny, light north wind, alpine high -10 C, freezing level 1000 m.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, light westerly wind, alpine high -7 C, freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, light northwest wind, alpine high -7 C, freezing level 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

After the storm on Saturday numerous small (size 1) and a few large (size 2) avalanches were triggered with explosives and several small avalanches were triggered by skiers. 

On Friday a few small (size 1) slab avalanches were triggered by skiers in lee terrain features. 

On Thursday a few large (size 2-2.5) slab avalanches released naturally during the night. One large (size 3) slab avalanche was triggered by explosives in the west of the region. Several small (size 1-1.5) slab avalanches were triggered by skiers mainly on south and east aspects. 

Snowpack Summary

The wind shifted direction and redistributed the snow onto a variety of aspects loading lee terrain features at treeline and in the alpine. The recent storm snow sits on a thick rain crust as high as 2000 m and varies from 25-45 cm in the east of the region to 40-100 cm in the west of the region. Recent avalanches slid on the crust or released within the storm snow. 

Weak facet/crust layers near the base of the snowpack have not been an active avalanche problem recently. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.