Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Feb 16 – 17, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Beware of wind slabs in steep alpine terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Shifting wind has formed small but reactive wind slabs in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Wednesday suggest small (size 1) wind slabs were reactive on a variety of aspects in the alpine and upper treeline elevations. The slabs were 10 to 20 cm thick, with some failing on a buried surface hoar layer.

Confidence

High

Snowpack Summary

Wind and sun have created variable surface conditions, with northeast wind heavily impacting open terrain.

15 to 30 cm of snow sits above a widespread crust. Many areas have reported a weak surface hoar layer above this crust, which could be problematic in areas where wind has formed a slab above the layer.

Snowpack depths decrease rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Friday

Sunny. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 2 to 4 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Regions covered