Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 28th, 2016 8:11AM

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

jsmith, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Expect small avalanches to run far and fast where new snow sits on top of a crust.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

5-10cm of snow expected by Monday morning with light to moderate westerly winds at ridgetop. Monday will be a break in the stormy weather, then back into snow on Tuesday. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom Sunday night and should hover around 1500m throughout the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday no new avalanches were reported in this region, but we expect this to change with Sunday's snow.

Snowpack Summary

Expect Sunday's snow to build touchy wind slabs on lee aspects in alpine and open treeline. The new snow will be on top of a crust in many areas which will increase the distance that small avalanches run. The mid February layer is down 30-60cm and is a crust in most areas. This layer is generally well bonded to the overlying persistent slab. However, in isolated ares there is surface hoar or facets overlying this crust making the interface much more likely to produce large avalanches.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Expect wind slabs to be very reactive to human triggers.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 29th, 2016 2:00PM