Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 17th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Jeff Andrews,
Unless you have a craving for dust on crust, sheltered areas on northerly aspects will be your best option. If realized, incremental snow will increase the hazard into the weekend.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday: Cloudy with scattered flurries up to 4cm. Alpine High -5 C. Ridge wind west 20-40 km/hr. Freezing level 1700m.
Saturday: Flurries up to 7cm. Alpine Low -9 C; High -7 C. Ridge wind west 20 gust to 45 km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday: Isolated flurries with trace accumulation. Alpine Low -26 C; High -9 C. Ridge wind northeast 10 km/hr
Snowpack Summary
5 to 15cm new snow past 4 days across the bulletin region accompanied by strong southwesterly winds has formed slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line. New snow burying weak temperature crust up to 1900m and solar crust on solar aspects up to 2800m. Dec Facets down 20-70cm. Basal faceting & depth hoar widespread throughout area.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed or reported over the last 4 days.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Sensitivity and consequence of this new slab may be increasing with incremental loading. These slabs are sitting on previous hard surfaces (old wind slabs, temperature and sun crusts).
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Persistent slabs sit over different weak layers depending on elevation & aspect. Above 1950m a buried facet layer down 20-40cm is the primary concern. Below 1950m, a faceting crust down 40-70 is presenting a more stubborn version of a similar problem
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 18th, 2022 4:00PM
