Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 14th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
Slab avalanches have been reactive to human triggers and even remote triggering from afar. This is most likely where the snow is wind affected and sitting above buried surface hoar or a crust.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanche activity has tapered but numerous rider-triggered slab avalanches continue to be reported up to size 2.5. Some of these avalanches are failing on buried sun crust and surface hoar down 20-25 cm deep, and others are failing on a firm crust down 30-50 cm deep.
Many of the recent reports surprised people with wider than expected propagation and remote triggering from afar.
Snowpack Summary
A new sun crust likely exists on steep southerly facing aspects. 15 to 25 cm of snow overlies a variety of surfaces including a weak layer of small surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or a thin sun crust on solar aspects.
The widespread crust buried in early February is down 30 to 50 cm and is proving to be touchy to human and machine triggers.
Various weak layers persist in the mid to lower snowpack, however, triggering these layers is unlikely where they are capped by a thick crust.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Clear. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15°C.
Thursday
Sunny. 20 to 25km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15°C.
Friday
Sunny with cloudy periods. 10 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10°C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Choose slopes that are well supported and have limited consequence.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent slabs are reactive to human triggers and have been catching people by surprise. They are up to 50 cm deep but show wide propagation across slopes and in convex terrain features, especially where the snow is wind affected.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
A change in wind direction has formed wind slabs on all aspects. Cracking and whumping below your feet are indicators of wind slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 15th, 2024 4:00PM
