Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 6th, 2017 4:03PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
Lots of uncertainty in the snowpack right now as this recent storm has left less snow then our neighbors to the east, but we are right on the edge. Slight changes will trigger an avalanche cycle. Ice climbers best avoid gullies right now.
Summary
Weather Forecast
This storm is ending on Monday night. Tuesday will remain cold with mostly light NE winds except at higher elevations where the winds will be stronger (brrr). Temperatures will remain in the -20 range for Tuesday. The upper level flow shifts back to SW later this week, and Thursday we will see the start of warming, winds and more precipitation
Snowpack Summary
The past 3-day storm has deposited 10 cm in Field and 25 cm at higher elevations. Strong winds from the Yoho Blow have been ripping through the Kicking Horse Pass, but outside this area the winds have generally been light except at the higher elevations. Overall a weak snowpack exists, and with several weak layer buried deep in the snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today, but our observations were limited.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The generally weak, facetted mid pack is producing moderate to hard shears. In the upper snowpack around treeline a buried layer of surface hoar produces variable shears. Current slab development will make triggering these layers more likely.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
We suspect this problem exists at the higher elevations, but do not yet have a real observation of it. With the current fresh snow available for transport, only a very small increase in winds speed will create wind slabs.
- Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by an upslope storm.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 7th, 2017 4:00PM
