Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2016 9:10AM

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

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

A recent deep slab avalanche near Kispiox is a good reminder that this is a low snow year and there are lingering weaknesses at the base of the snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY: flurries, moderate southerly winds, 1000m freezing level. THURSDAY: flurries, light to moderate westerly winds, 800m freezing level 1000m. FRIDAY: flurries, moderate southerly winds, 1200m freezing level.

Avalanche Summary

A very large avalanche was triggered remotely by a skier on Monday north of the Kispiox. It released on basal facets in a steep unsupported wind loaded feature.

Snowpack Summary

Recent moderate winds have created fresh pockets of wind slab in both traditional and reverse loaded lee features in the alpine and at treeline. A couple of crusts buried in early and late February can be found in the upper meter of the snowpack. Below this a layer of surface hoar from early January can be found in isolated locations between 60 and 140cm down. We havent heard of any activity on this layer for a couple of weeks now and it is becoming less of a concern. The snowpack in shallower areas sits on a weak base layer of facetted snow. This has active layer recently, responsible for several large avalanches in unsupported alpine features over the last couple of weeks.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Given the recent variable winds I suspect that you can find wind slabs on all aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

A layer of facets close to the ground remains a low probability high consequence concern. Large avalanches could be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as a cornice release or smaller avalanche.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2016 2:00PM