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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2025–Feb 18th, 2025

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

Regions

Brandywine, Garibaldi, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Continue to assess steep lines for wind slab

Light snowfall and south wind has formed small wind slabs near ridge crests

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday explosives triggered several small storm and wind slab avalanches.

Several dry loose avalanches in steep terrain were also reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of new snow has fallen with strong southeast wind, forming new wind slab on northerly aspects. In sheltered terrain this new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar. In exposed terrain it will overlie a sun crust or wind-affected snow.

A weak layer that was buried at the end of January is down 30 to 80 cm in the snowpack. Depending on where you are, it'll be a combo of different crystals. With crusts on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots.

The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow possible. 10 to 20 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow possible. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 5 mm of mixed precipitation. 25 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 mm of mixed precipitation. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

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.