Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 28th, 2022 3:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Dvonk, Avalanche Canada

Warm temps, wind and snowfall are creating reactive windslabs in the Alpine and open TL features, identify if there is wind effect before stepping in to terrain

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Nice warm temps (-6) and some snowfall are helping refresh the tenure. Sunday night saw 6cm on the spray with moderate wind. 

Tuesday should be the same, More snow (up to 10cm) and Moderate SW winds.

Something to keep in mind is the rising freezing levels to 2000m. Spray road is around 1850m.

Avalanche Summary

Forecasters out in Burstall pass today were able to get wind slabs moving in open TL features. Although not very big, The windslab problem is there and it is becoming more likely with increasing snow, wind and Warm temps.

Snowpack Summary

Continuous SW winds continue to redistribute the previous and new snow available for transport. Forecasters found a variety of windslabs in open TL features today. This sits on top of the Feb 19th interface, sun crusts on solar aspects and hard wind slabs everywhere else. This layer is perfect for a sliding layer. watch for reactivity as the load increases.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at and above treeline.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Strong SW winds are creating extensive fresh wind slabs in Alpine and Treeline terrain. These slabs will become increasing reactive with the incoming snow and continues strong winds.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 1st, 2022 3:00PM