Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 15th, 2013 8:05AM

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

Parks Canada jon schleiss, Parks Canada

Skiers have been triggering soft slabs in wind affected areas in the alpine and treeline over the last few days. Use caution when approaching wind affected terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Warm temps at treeline (-2.0) today will cool this evening as a system bringing 10-20cm of snow and cooler temperatures for Saturday (-8.0 at treeline). On Sunday the weather is supposed to be drier and cool as another ridge builds with treeline temps around -10.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow from earlier this week has been transported by strong winds to create a soft slab in the alpine and treeline. This slab, which is 20-40 cm thick, overlies a layer of surface hoar, formed on Feb. 12. It is best preserved and most reactive, between 17-1900 m. It is very touchy on solar aspects where the surface hoar sits on a sun crust

Avalanche Summary

Backcountry skiers reported "touchy" conditions up Connaught Creek and Perly Rock on North aspects where slabs were skier triggered  up to size 1.5. This layer is proving to be easily triggered by skiers.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Storm snow is easily triggered by skiers. It is still a soft slab in most places, but has the potential to propagate widely on a touchy layer of surface hoar.  Below treeline, open glades may be very reactive.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Test slopes before committing to them.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
The presence of wind slabs in the alpine is likely based on the high to extreme winds that affected the area in the past few days.  Expect to find them in wind exposed areas at treeline and in the alpine.
The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 16th, 2013 8:00AM