Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 25th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
mhalik,
Avalanche Canada
Dangerous avalanche conditions, natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely. Don't let storm day fever lure you into big terrain features
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday ski cutting produced numerous small avalanches in the reactive storm slab in the Lizard Range.
This MIN from last Thursday details a skier-triggered avalanche on the crust/facet layer found throughout the region.
With significant snowfall and strong wind in the forecast, the likelihood of both natural and human-triggered avalanches is primed to increase throughout the stormy period and remain elevated for several days.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 30 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate by the end of the day on Monday. This new snow will add to previous storm snow totals of around 20 cm.
Combined, the snow will be covering a sun crust on south and west-facing slopes and below treeline elevations. On north and east-facing upper-elevation slopes the storm snow and southwesterly winds are expected to form thicker and more reactive storm slabs.
A widespread crust formed in early February is buried 40 to 80 cm. In some areas, weak faceted grains have formed above and/or below the crust. The new snow may overload this layer creating very large avalanches.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of new snow. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Snow/rain line around 1200 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 25 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs will be building on all aspects, but are expected to be deeper and more reactive on lee northerly and easterly slopes near ridgetops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Weak faceted grains have formed above and below a crust that is buried 30 to 60 cm. There is potential for storm slabs to overload this layer, triggering much larger avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 26th, 2024 4:00PM
