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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 21st, 2023–Feb 22nd, 2023

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

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, South Island, West Island.

Northerly winds will have produced wind slabs at higher elevations and may be reactive to human triggering, particularly where they overlie a crust.

New snow on Wednesday focused in the southern parts of the region could increase the avalanche hazard.

At lower elevations, a crust will make for challenging travel conditions, but generally safe avalanche conditions.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Monday, backcountry users reported a few small wet loose avalanches. Until temperatures cool, expect to see more of these.

Thank you to all who contribute to the Mountain Information Network. If you head to the backcountry please consider doing the same.

Snowpack Summary

A crust near or on the surface may extend into the alpine from warm temperatures and rain on Monday. At higher elevations, 10 to 20 cm of recent snowfall has been redistributed by northwesterly winds, scouring windward slopes and depositing wind slabs in lee areas. A crust, found 20 to 70 cm down, extends to mountain tops on all aspects. Recent reports suggest this crust is bonding poorly to the snow above.

The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated and strengthened.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation ending early in the evening, winds northeast 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -6 °C and falling.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny with clouds, 3 cm accumulation in most places with up to 10 to 15cm accumulation to the south, winds north 20 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -12 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with the sun breaking through later in the day, 2 to 5 cm accumulation ending in the morning, winds 35 to 40 km/h, treeline temperatures -13 °C.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds north 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.

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.