Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 19th, 2012 9:31AM

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

Avalanche Canada jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Monday: moderate snowfall occurring between late afternoon and early Tuesday morning / moderate to strong southwest winds / freezing level @ 600m Tuesday: Moderate to heavy snowfall in the afternoon, continuing into Wednesday morning / strong southwest winds / freezing level @ 600m Wednesday: Moderate snowfall in the morning easing off by mid-day / strong northwest winds / freezing level@ 400m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches to report. Expect slab avalanche activity in response to weather forecast for Monday afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

The last week has seen dribs and drabs of snowfall with light winds in most areas. The recently fallen snow sits over a strong melt freeze crust that exists below 1000m on all aspects and over wind-pressed powder on shaded alpine features. Sandwiched between the newer snow and the aforementioned older surfaces may be a buried surface hoar layer at treeline and below. This surface hoar layer seems most prevalent in protected inland areas. Where it exists, we expect to see gradually increasing reactivity in the surface hoar interface with loading and slab development forecast for this week. Check out our Forecaster's Blog for some insight on incremental loading. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Moderate to strong winds combined with new snowfall will create new and reactive wind slabs on lee terrain. Expect wind slab development to occur throughout Monday.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Feb 20th, 2012 9:00AM