Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 25th, 2015–Feb 26th, 2015

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kootenay Boundary.

Are you a member of Avalanche Canada? Join today at avalanche.ca/membership

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Scattered cloud, no significant precipitation. Light variable winds at all elevations. Friday: Broken cloud, 0 to 4 cm of snow possible. Light variable winds at all elevations. Saturday: Few clouds, no significant precipitation. Light N winds at treeline, moderate N/NE winds at ridgetop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was reported on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

The most prominent feature in the snowpack is the upper crust. This robust crust is supportive all the way to ridge crest and is effectively "capping" the snowpack, keeping the weight of riders from interacting with any deeper weak layers. Surface hoar on this crust is a widespread phenomenon. On solar aspects the proud crust is on the surface, on shadier aspects there may be 5 - 20 cm of settled storm snow on it. There are still weak layers in the snowpack that we'll continue to monitor. The mid-January surface hoar layer is down about 100cm in the alpine and down around 50 to 60cm at treeline. The mid-December crust/facet/surface hoar weakness may persist in the mid to lower snowpack at higher elevations. Both these layers have gone dormant for the time being, we would likely need significant warming to re-activate them.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

While unlikely to be human triggered, it's important to be aware that there are still deeply buried weak layers in the snowpack. Cornice fall, significant warming, or a breakdown of the thick supportive surface crust could re-activate this problem.

Conditions are greatly improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.>Be aware of thin areas and rock outcroppings where it may be possible to initiate an avalanche that fails on one of the deeply buried weak layers.>Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. >

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 3 - 6