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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 9th, 2024–Feb 10th, 2024

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary, Lizard-Flathead, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir, Flathead, Lizard, Crawford, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Retallack.

Snow is available for transport, and with increasing westerly winds, human-triggered wind slabs are possible. Actively look for instabilities like shooting cracks and whumpfing.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous explosive-controlled soft slabs up to size 2 were reported in the Fernie area.

On Thursday several skier-triggered storm slab and dry loose up to size 1.5 were reported in the Nelson area.

Snowpack Summary

New low-density snow is being redistributed by westerly winds, developing wind slabs over various surfaces of surface hoar, soft snow, wind-affected snow, and a thin crust formed on steep, solar-facing slopes. A crust now buried 30 to 40 cm deep seems to be well-bonded at lower elevations, in the alpine this may still need some time to bond.

Crusts and facets in the mid and lower snowpack can still be found in isolated pockets and we will continue to monitor them for signs of reactivity.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mainly clear with periods of cloud. Alpine wind variable, generally westerly, 20 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Saturday

Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine wind west 25 to 35 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries 4 to 8 cm accumulated. Alpine wind southwest 30 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries 5 to 10 cm accumulated. Alpine wind southwest 20 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.

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.