Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 13th, 2016 9:18AM

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

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

A moderate series of storms will raise avalanche danger for Sunday and again for Tuesday.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday: 5-10 cm new snow expected, with the freezing level around 700 m. Winds are expected to be moderate to strong, gusting 40-60 km/r at ridgetop, getting stronger later in the day.Â Monday: A short-lived break during the day, possibly accompanied by some flurries. Freezing level around 800 m, winds strong in the morning, becoming light southwesterly.Â Monday night and Tuesday: a weak storm is expected to start late on Monday, bringing around 5 cm Monday night, and another 5 cm or so on Tuesday. Freezing levels around 900 m, winds strong southwesterly.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations.

Snowpack Summary

Continued snowfall and mostly southwest New wind slabs are developing in the lee of of southwest winds in the alpine and at treeline. Storm snow from last week has settled due to recent warm temperatures. There may be a buried layer of surface hoar in the top 30 cm of the snowpack from early February, this layer was found at Hankin, but has not been widely reported. Crusts may be developing at mid-elevations as the freezing level slowly descends. The early January persistent weak layer of buried surface hoar is down 50-80 cm in most of the region, but may be down a metre or more in the deeper snowpack areas in the southwest of the region. Shallow snowpack areas in the east and north of the region may have a weak base layer of facetted snow on or just above the ground.

Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow and strong forecast winds will set up fresh wind slabs on mainly north to easterly aspects at treeline and in the alpine.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

A buried layer of surface hoar around 60 cm below the surface is cause for concern, especially on open unsupported, or convex slopes.

Be aware of the potential for large, widely propagating avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Feb 14th, 2016 2:00PM