Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 16th, 2023–Feb 17th, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

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, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Avalanches are likely on wind-loaded features in the alpine. Continually assess conditions as they change through the day. Carefully evaluate wind loading as you move through the terrain and investigate the bond of wind slabs to the crust below.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

There have been no new avalanches observed or reported in the region for the past week.

Snowpack Summary

Continued light flurries have accumulated over a variety of surfaces including thin wind slabs in the alpine, small surface hoar in sheltered areas and a breakable freezing rain crust between 1100 m and 1600 m.

A hard crust is found 60 to 80 cm deep. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is strong and consolidated.

Snowpack depths are reaching 230 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Overcast with continued light to moderate snowfall, 5 to 15 cm of accumulation. Winds southwest 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures -1 °C and freezing levels 500 m.

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 1 to 5 cm of accumulation. Winds west 30 km/h. Treeline temperatures -2 °C and freezing levels rise to 1000 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with very light isolated flurries, 1 to 5 cm of accumulation. Winds northwest 30 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. Treeline temperatures -2 °C and freezing levels 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with very light isolated flurries, 1 to 5 cm of accumulation. Winds northwest 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h. Treeline temperatures -4 °C and freezing levels of 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Although their spatial distribution is isolated, wind slabs are reactive.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.