Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 25th, 2021 3:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
matt,
Avalanche Canada
There seems to be huge amounts of variability regionally when it comes to snowpack character at the moment. What we're seeing in our specific forecast region (Smith Dorrien corridor) may not apply to neighboring areas.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
It looks as though the winds will relax and take a break tomorrow. The ridgetop winds will drop from 30km/hr to about 15 by tomorrow afternoon. they'll generally be out of the west, but we are expecting them to briefly shift to the east over night friday. -14 for tomorrow morning, but warming to -7 as a day time high. There are some flurried expected, but not a lot of accumulation. Only a few centimeters.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing was seen today, but skies were obscured in many areas. There could have been a small cycle in the alpine as the winds started.
Snowpack Summary
We often have a distinct weather pattern each season, and this year it is abnormally strong winds. Last night and earlier today we had alpine gusts at over 150km/hr, and valley bottom winds in the 30-40km range. Needless to say, there's yet another layer of wind slabs in open areas and widespread wind effect near ridges. Lots of exposed rock and gravel out there right now too. Having said that, there are still sheltered areas that but up to the main ranges that will likely hold snow.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
These are widespread in any open terrain. If the snow texture becomes "cakey" underfoot or sounds hollow, choose low angle terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 26th, 2021 3:00PM
