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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 20th, 2024–Feb 21st, 2024

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

Regions

Glacier.

Stick to polar aspects and sheltered terrain to find the best skiing.

Expect sluffing in steep terrain and watch for exposure to cliffs and terrain traps.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches observed along the highway corridor Tuesday.

On Monday, a few point-release dry sluffs were noted from steep terrain on Tupper and Macdonald.

In the past week, riders have been triggering unexpected avalanches, near ridgetop in wind effected terrain. These avalanches failed on a prominent crust down ~30-50cm. Terminal Pk & Connaught drainage

Snowpack Summary

5-10 cm of new snow freshly covers a spring like conditions. These include: soft snow in protected terrain on polar aspects, breakable crust on steep solar aspects, and variable wind slab in exposed terrain at ridge top.

A strong, supportive crust (widespread below 2500m) is down 30-50cm, makes for challenging travel and a layer for avalanches to slide on.

The mid-lower snowpack has strengthened. Isolated pockets of shallow, weak snow can be found in the high alpine.

Weather Summary

A weak disturbance this week will bring clouds, light snow, and freezing levels hovering around 1300 m.

Tonight: Cloudy/flurries, 5 cm, Alp low -5°C, ridgetop winds SW light gusting to Mod.

Wed: Cloudy/isolated flurries, Alp high -5°C, light SW winds.

Thurs: Cloudy/isolated flurries, Alp high -6°C, mod W winds.

Fri: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high -6°C, light/gusting mod SW wind.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Be cautious of buried obstacles especially below treeline.

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

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.