Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 17th, 2020 5:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
Sun and warm temperatures have helped the snowpack settle and bond. Keep an eye on sunny slopes warming through the day, move to more shaded terrain and avoid overhead hazards if the surface snow becomes moist or wet.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Alpine low temperature -4 C. North wind 10-15 km/hr. Freezing level 200 m.
TUESDAY: Sunny. Alpine high temperature +3 C. Northeast wind 10-15 km/hr. Freezing level 1100 m.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Alpine high temperature +5 C. South wind 15-30 km/hr. Freezing level 1900 m.
THURSDAY: Sun with increasing cloud. Alpine high temperature +3 C. Southwest wind 15-25 km/hr. Freezing level 1200 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, slab avalanches up to size 2 were triggered by skiers as storm slabs 20-40 cm thick slid on the crust.Â
Snowpack Summary
New snow over the weekend has settled with sun and warm temperatures. Isolated pockets of wind slab may still be found in lee terrain at the highest elevations.
The snowpack is well settled and includes a a thick rain crust sits 50-60 cm below the surface. Snowpack depths are in the range of 200-250 cm around the peaks of the North Shore mountains (1400 m), tapering quickly with elevation to almost nothing below 1000 m.
Terrain and Travel
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for pockets of wind slab around ridges and steep rolls at upper elevations. Keep an eye on cornices and overhead hazards, especially as the sun bakes the surface snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
South-facing aspects are expected to warm with strong input from the sun. Be mindful of cornices and sun impacting hazards above you.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 18th, 2020 5:00PM
