Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2014 8:10AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

The buried weak layer from early February continues to be a concern. Check out the forecasters’ blog.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Sunday: Clear and cold overnight with strong Northeast winds. Alpine temperatures below -20. Cloud developing during the day with some light flurries in the afternoon combined with strong Easterly winds.Monday: Cloudy and cold with moderate Easterly winds. Alpine temperatures around -25.Tuesday: Mostly clear and cold with alpine temperatures around -22.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity reported.

Snowpack Summary

The recent warm air over most of the forecast regions did not push into the Northwest Inland. Temperatures remained cool even with solar radiation, and now the temperatures have dropped to very cold with the influence of arctic air sliding down from the Northeast. The early February weak layer of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is buried down about 35-90 cm. The snow above the crust has been transported by Southwest winds and then reverse loaded by Easterly or Southeast winds. Cold temperatures have not settled the snow above the weak layer into a cohesive slab, and the cold has preserved the weak layer and associated crusts. I suspect that there will not be much change or improvement in the bonding of the late February snow to the crusts and facets. Snow pack tests may help to show when this layer demonstrates more resistance to added forces.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Continued cold temperatures are expected to preserve the buried February weak layer of facets and crusts. Avalanche fractures may propagate further if the old storm snow above the weak layers settles into a cohesive slab.

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.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Wind Slabs

Continued strong Easterly winds are expected to scour leeward slopes and develop hard wind slabs in areas that have snow available for transport.

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.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2014 2:00PM