Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 23rd, 2014 7:43AM

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

Peter, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Hazard will likely increase on south facing slopes during the day due to strong solar radiation.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Monday: Mainly sunny. The freezing level is at valley bottom. Ridge winds are light to moderate from the east-southeast. Tuesday: Mainly sunny. The freezing level is at valley bottom. Winds are light from the SW. Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is at valley bottom. Winds are light from the NW.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches have been reported in the past couple days; however, rider or remotely triggered avalanches, whumpfing, and cracking continue to be reported throughout the region. Keep a close eye on what the sun and wind are doing over the next few days. Small weather inputs could be enough to tip the scales and increase the potential for rider triggering in specific areas (wind-loaded or sun-exposed slopes).

Snowpack Summary

Outflow winds picked late on Saturday and have likely resulted in reverse loading in exposed terrain. 35-90 cm of settled storm snow overlies a variety of old surfaces including weak facets, surface hoar (more predominant at tree line and below tree line elevations), a scoured crust, wind pressed snow, or any combination of these. Whumpfing, cracking, and reports from the field indicate a very poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces. Recent snowpack tests give easy or moderate "pops or drops" shears on this persistent weakness and show potential for wide propagation. Recent strong winds have transported some of the new snow and formed dense wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Solar radiation and/or additional wind loading could be enough to tip the scales and greatly increase the potential for triggering this problem. Pay close attention to local conditions.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Use conservative route selection, stick to moderate angled terrain with low consequence.>Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Wind Slabs

Outflow winds may have redistributed some of the recent storm snow and formed dense wind slabs in unusual places.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 24th, 2014 2:00PM