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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 16th, 2024–Feb 17th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Flathead, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead.

Slab avalanches have been reactive to human triggers. This is most likely where the snow is wind affected.

Choose smaller test slopes before committing to large features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday three large (size 2) persistent slab avalanches were explosive triggered failing on the February melt freeze crust and were 60 cm in depth.

On Wednesday, a size 2 wind slab was skier-triggered on a SE aspect at 1950 m elevation. Many large (size 2) storm slab avalanche were triggered utilizing explosives near Fernie. All of these avalanches occurred in the alpine and on all aspects, with the exception of northwest.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 30 cm of recent snow adds on top of the early February rain crust now buried 40 to 50 cm deep, which seems well-bonded at lower elevations but isn't bonding well at higher elevations.

There are crusts and facets in the mid and lower snowpack but have not produced any recent avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 10-15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Friday

Mostly clear skies, 15 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Mostly clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday

Clear skies, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Light flurries 1 to 5 cm. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Storm snow and wind slabs overlie a melt freeze crust that was buried on February the 3rd. Test on small features before committing to larger terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are likely to be reactive just below ridgetops and steep alpine terrain features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2