Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 18th, 2016 8:01AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Storm slabs are gaining strength to the underlying surfaces, but can still be triggered by people.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A minor front will pass through Rogers Pass today. Steady, light snowfall amounting to 5-10cm is expected with light to mod S ridge-top winds. Freezing levels will gradually drop from 1800m to 1200m tonight. Friday will be mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, mod SW winds, and freezing levels around 1300m.

Snowpack Summary

The past week's storm snow is settling. On solar aspects it sits on a sun crust, while elsewhere it sits on variable surfaces, including isolated surface hoar. The slabs have been reactive in snowpack tests, showing the potential for step-down to lower layers if triggered. The mid- to lower snow pack is well-settled. Cornices grew in the storm.

Avalanche Summary

The avalanche cycle continued to slow yesterday, with several slabs from sz 1.5 to 2.5 observed in the highway corridor. A field team in the Hermit basin observed debris 48+ hours old in the Grizzly Slide path, including some large cornice chunks.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

The storm slab is settling, but a couple layers within the new snow show the potential for step-down to lower layers if a slab is triggered.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs were formed during and after the past week's storm. They are starting to gain strength to the underlying surfaces, but are shallow enough to be triggered by skiers/boarders.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 19th, 2016 8:00AM