Widespread windslab exists throughout the Park. This layer is touchy, especially in unsupported terrain.
Weather Forecast
A series of storms will bring precip to Rogers Pass through the week. Some models show up to 40 cm of accumulated snow by Sunday! Today will be cloudy with 4cms of snow expected. Freezing level will be at 1500m, with alpine highs of -2 deg and southeast ridge winds 10-30 kph.
Snowpack Summary
Previous Strong South winds have blown around our 22cm of new snow creating wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline. 30cm of storm snow is poorly bonded to a variable crust on SE through W aspects and widespread surface hoar/stellars on shaded aspects.The February 10th surface hoar/sun crust is down 50-90cm and is becoming less reactive.
Avalanche Summary
New snow and strong winds yesterday kicked off a natural avalanche cycle to sz 2.5 mostly from very steep start zones. We've received reports of 4 skier triggered avalanches in the few couple of days: Windslabs in the Asulkan, Connaught & Loop Valleys from unsupported terrain and a sz 1 in Balu Pass, failing down 10 on the Feb 27 surface hoar.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.