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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 13th, 2023–Feb 14th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Wind slabs and the impact of sunny skies are the concerns for Tuesday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We didn't hear of any new avalanche observations on Sunday. Numerous small storm slabs released on Saturday during stormy weather.

Looking forward, human-triggered wind slab avalanches are possible in southerly slopes at higher elevations. Cornices and steep sun-exposed slopes should also be treated as suspect given the sunny skies and relatively warm air.

Snowpack Summary

Anywhere from a dusting to 10 cm of dry snow rests above a melt-freeze crust that formed during the weekend's rain. Strong to extreme northerly wind redistributed this snow into wind slabs on atypical southerly slopes.

The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated and strong.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly clear skies with no precipitation, 40 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -6 °C.

Tuesday

Clear skies with no precipitation, 10 km/h north wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 900 m.

Wednesday

Increasing clouds with afternoon snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 50 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 °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.
  • Minimize overhead exposure; avalanches triggered by warming or cornice fall may be large and destructive.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.