Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 18th, 2024–Feb 19th, 2024

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Cariboos, McBride, Premier, Quesnel, Clemina.

Use caution near ridge tops and rollovers.

Hard wind slabs may not be bonded to the solid crust underneath.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported at the time of publishing on Sunday.

On Saturday, there were numerous small wet loose avalanches from slopes exposed to the sun and a couple of small rider-controlled wind slabs.

A few small (size 1-1.5) wind slab avalanches were triggered in the alpine on Thursday and Friday. Occasionally they have triggered from up to 20 m away. This is likely because of the sugary facets over the crust with a wind slab on top.

Snowpack Summary

In treeline terrain that is sheltered from the wind, 15 to 25 cm of settled snow sits above the crust.

South through west aspects are likely stripped down to a thick crust that formed early in February. In general, the crust is strong and supportive to travel below 1900 m. Above 1900 m the crust becomes breakable and tapers out around 2400 m.

On north through east aspects you will likely find old wind slabs on sugary facets over this crust.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly clear skies. 0 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday

Clear skies. 0 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wedensday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.

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.