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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 12th, 2020–Feb 13th, 2020

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

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Watch for wind loaded pockets below ridge crests and steep roll-overs. Small human-triggered wind slab avalanches have surprised a few skiers recently.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday night: Clear. Winds light northwest. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Thursday: Flurries bringing up to 5 cm new snow. Winds moderate southwest. Freezing level 1000 m.

Friday: Flurries. Winds moderate northwest. Freezing level 1100 m.

Saturday: Flurries. Winds moderate southwest. Freezing level 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few small (size 1) skier-triggered wind slab avalanches were reported on east/northeast aspects in the alpine on Monday and Tuesday. One of these was reported to have slid on a crust buried around 20 cm below the surface.

Snowpack Summary

A bit of new snow and wind will further wind slab development in lee features at alpine and upper treeline elevations. Recent winds have varied in direction so wind slabs can be found on a variety of aspects. A thick rain crust as high as 2000 m sits below 25-45 cm of recent storm snow in the east of the region and 40-100 cm in the west. Recent avalanches slid on the crust or released within the storm snow. However, recent information indicates the bond at the crust is improving.

Weak facet/crust layers near the base of the snowpack have not been an active avalanche problem recently. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.

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.