Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 27th, 2015 7:21AM

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

Peter, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Forecast dry and relatively cool weather will keep avalanche danger low this weekend.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure rebuilds overnight and results in clearing skies and sunny weather for the weekend. The freezing level is near valley bottom on Saturday and up to around 1000 m on Sunday. Winds are light gusting to moderate from the NE-NW. A weak low pressure system could cross the province on Monday bringing light or moderate snowfall, but thereâ€™s a good deal of uncertainty with this disturbance.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported recently.

Snowpack Summary

A couple centimetres of new snow sits on the previous snow surface, which was a mix of surface hoar, crusts, wind affected surfaces, or dry powder. The most prominent snowpack features is a thick supportive crust just below the surface. It extends up to around 2200m. Below this elevation the crust is effectively capping the snowpack, preventing riders from tickling deeper persistent weak layers. In alpine areas, where the crust is not present or is less thick, it could still be possible to trigger a deep avalanche from sparsely covered rocky slopes or with a heavy load (i.e. cornice fall).

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Triggering this problem is unlikely, but be wary of high north aspects where the near-surface crust in absent or breakable and south facing slopes if the snow surface is becoming moist or wet.

Be aware of thin areas and rock outcroppings where it may be possible to initiate an avalanche that fails on one of the deeply buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Feb 28th, 2015 2:00PM