Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 19th, 2018–Feb 20th, 2018

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Its cold out there, bring the extra puffy jacket! Recent strong N-E winds have reverse loaded terrain at and above treeline, expect widespread wind effect.

Weather Forecast

Sunny with cloudy periods, N winds to 20km/h and alpine highs of -18C. Cloudy with sunny periods into mid week with continued cold temperatures and winds shifting from northerly to westerly by Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Strong NE winds have formed reverse loaded cornices that have been failing and triggering size 2 avalanches. Widespread windslab can be expected in the alpine and exposed areas well into treeline. On solar aspects, a well developed crust is buried 40cm. Persistent weak layers from January and December are now buried 150-200cm.

Avalanche Summary

A dozen avalanches mostly in the size 2 range observed yesterday in the highway corridor. Two natural cornice triggered slides observed in Grizzly bowl this morning off of solar terrain. MIN report of a size 2 slab avalanche occurring in the alpine yesterday morning off a NE aspect of the Asulkan Glacier below Sapphire Col.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

20 hrs of strong N-NE winds have formed reverse loaded windslab at and above treeline. Natural slab avalanches to size 2 have been randomly occurring many triggered by cornice fall. Avoid exposing yourself to overhead hazard.

Recent N-NE wind loading have created widespread wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Persistent weak layers continue to linger and may be susceptible to human triggering in shallow areas. Larger triggers such as cornice fall may also wake these deeper weak layers resulting in larger avalanches.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 4