Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 14th, 2023–Feb 15th, 2023

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

Regions

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Avalanches are possible on wind-loaded features in the alpine. Carefully evaluate wind loading in terrain and investigate the bond of wind slabs to the crust below them before committing to a slope.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

There have been no new avalanches reported in the region since Wednesday. Backcountry users should expect to see evidence of a small natural avalanche cycle caused by strong solar radiation Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of storm snow blankets the Coast Mountains. Underneath recent storm snow, a breakable freezing rain crust is found between 1100 m and 1600 m, possibly higher. Moderate variable winds are redistributing new snow into deeper pockets in lees at higher elevations.

A hard crust can now be found in sheltered, approximately 60 to 80 cm deep. The rest of the mid and lower snowpack seems strong and consolidated.

Snowpack depths are reaching 230 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear skies. Winds northwest switching to west 25 km/h gusting 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -6 °C and freezing levels drop to 300 m. 

Wednesday 

Partly cloudy. Winds southwest 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -5 °C and freezing levels 600 m. 

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 5 mm accumulation. Winds southwest 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -4 °C and freezing levels 700 m. 

Overnight cloudy with flurries, 5-10 mm accumulation.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trrace accumulation. Winds west 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -2 °C and freezing levels 1000 m. 

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.

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.