Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2017 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Lisa Paulson, Avalanche Canada

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Potential for large avalanches persist. Conservative route choices remain the theme of the day. Ice climbers should pay attention to freezing levels and adjust their route choices accordingly.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Saturday will be mainly cloudy with some isolated flurries. Freezing levels will drop to near surface friday night and climb up to 1500 m for Saturday through to Sunday, with light south wind and flurries continuing through the weekend. 

Snowpack Summary

40-60 cm of snow in the past week combined with mod SW winds created new reactive windslabs on lee and crossloaded features. This rests on hard windslabs which overlie a structurally weak mid-pack. Test results show sudden planner failures in the storm snow & persistent mid pack facets. Below 1800 m the snowpack is moist from rain event on Thur.

Avalanche Summary

Several avalanches in the BYK region in the past 24 hrs, some stepping down to deep persistent layers and the ground. Warm temps and rain below 1800m in Field on Thursday triggered a loose wet avalanche cycle at lower elevations. Avalanches up to size two were observed running over several of the ice climbs on Mt Dennis.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Fresh snow and recent wind has created fresh wind slabs in alpine and open terrain near treeline,

  • If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

The recent snow has created a touchy slab over several weak interfaces in the mid-pack. Avalanches that have run full path have been observed in many areas over the past week.

  • Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2017 4:00PM