Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 27th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
dboucher,
Avalanche Canada
Heavy and steady precipitation with strong winds will continue to develop significant storm slabs, especially in lee areas in the alpine and at treeline. It is a good day to stay away from avalanche terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations. We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather.
Weather Forecast
A series of weather systems are set to hit BC in the next few days bringing precipitations, mild air and strong mountaintop winds.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Snow and rain mixed, heavy at time, 35-45 mm, 30-50 km/h southerly wind, treeline low temperature +1 C, freezing level at 1100 m.
MONDAY: Rain, heavy at times, 50-65 mm, 40-60 km/h southerly wind, treeline high temperature +4 C, freezing level at 1800 m.
TUESDAY: Rain, heavy at times, 35-45 mm, 40-60 km/h soutwesterly wind, treeline high temperature +2 C, freezing level at 1300 m.
WEDNESDAY: Wet snow mixed with rain, heavay at times, 35-45 mm, 30-50 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline high temperature +1 C, freezing level at 1200 m.
Avalanche Summary
A skier accidental size 1.5 on a windslab over a small convexity was reported on Saturday. A few small storm slabs remotely triggered by skiers were reported on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
About 25-30 cm of storm snow is covering a variety of surfaces including the widespread mid-February crust, wind affected snow and pockets of wind slab in exposed high elevation terrain, a suncrust on solar aspects, low density facetted snow on northerly slopes and spotty surface hoar in very sheltered lower elevations. It is unknow how this new snow will bond to the previous surfaces but we are expecting it will not bond very well.
The mid-February crust is down around 25-50 cm and exists on all aspects and elevations. Observations are suggesting that it is bonding well to surrounding snow but large loads such as heavy snowfalls or rain and cornice falls could wake up this layer and produce very large avalanches.
The late-January melt-freeze crust is now down around 80 cm and seems to be well bonded to the surrounding snow. The middle and lower snowpack are considered well settled and strong.
Terrain and Travel
- Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs will continue to develop throughout the day, especially in lee areas in the alpine and at treeline. It is almost certain that this new snow will not bond very well to the variety of previous surfaces and will produce a natural avalanche cycle. It is a good day to stay away from avalanche terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 28th, 2022 4:00PM
