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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2024–Feb 18th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Fresh wind slabs may be forming on lee slopes near ridge crests. These slabs may be reactive where they overlie weak layers of surface hoar or facets.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A skier accidentally triggered an small (size 1) wind slab avalanche on Friday on Mt. Joan. Check out this MIN for full details.

Snowpack Summary

Around 4-10 cm of new snow may be accumulated at upper elevations by the end of day Sunday. This snow is falling on a variety of surfaces including a crust on sun-exposed slopes, old wind slabs and soft faceted snow in sheltered terrain. In isolated areas, wind slabs may be more reactive where they overlie facets and surface hoar.

The mid-pack contains several other crusts and layers of moist rounded grains.

Below treeline, most areas are below the threshold for forming avalanches.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 1-4 cm of new snow / light rain, 15-30 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 0°C, freezing level dropping to 900m.

Sunday

Cloudy with a trace to 2 cm of snow / light rain, 15-30 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 1°C, freezing level 1200 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 2-10 cm of snow / light rain, 15 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 3°C, freezing levels 1400 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 1-4 cm of new snow / light rain, 15 km/h southwest alpine wind, treeline temperature 2°C, freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.