Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 18th, 2012 9:56AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

We're entering a more active pattern which should persist through the middle of next week.Sun: A ridge of high pressure rebuilds during the day allowing temperatures to cool slightly while winds ease and switch from the SW to NW. A bit of instability from Saturday's storm will produce the odd flurry, but skies should clear in the afternoon. Look for 1500m temps to climb to -2 during the day.Mon/Tue: A few weak systems pass over the region favoring west slopes. Nothing in the flow is particularly well organized, it's the kind of setup that has the potential to bring 2-4 cm a day. Precip totals will be quite variable throughout the region, favoring the west slopes. 1500 m temps: High -3, Low -7

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity reported Thursday or Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread surface hoar has been buried by 5 - 10 cm of new snow in most of the region. The exception is terrain closer to the bugs where the interface is down 20-40cm. A melt-freeze crust has developed on southerly aspects at all elevations. North and east aspects continue to have dry snow and some surface sloughing in steep terrain. Basal facets have not been reactive, but operators continue to monitor this layer in tests. Triggering this deep persistent weak layer is unlikely, but shallow snowpack areas or shallow weak areas adjacent to deeper wind loaded slopes are suspect locations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Fri/Sat winds were out of the S, SW. Winds should switch to the NW Sun. This combination has made for thin windslabs in wind exposed terrain features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs
Although a deep persistent slab would most likely require a large trigger (such as cornice fall), they are still possible; especially in thin snowpack areas or in unsupported, rocky terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 7

Valid until: Feb 19th, 2012 9:00AM

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