Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 19th, 2017 3:47PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

A week of benign weather. Watch for isolated wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Isolated flurries with trace accumulations, light south wind, alpine temperatures around -4 C.TUESDAY: Isolated flurries with trace accumulations, light northwest wind, alpine temperatures around -6 C.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northwest wind, alpine temperatures around -8 C.

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, several small size 1 wind slabs were reported. Small loose dry avalanches running on the rain crust have also been reactive to skier traffic. Watch for isolated pockets where thicker wind slabs could produce larger avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Clear cold weather and shifting winds have created a variety of surface conditions including isolated wind slabs, pockets of soft snow (15-25 cm deep), sun crusts, and surface hoar. A supportive rain crust exists below 1000 m. A layer of surface hoar that was buried on February 10th can be found buried 30-60 cm deep at treeline elevations and has been reactive in some recent snowpack tests. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally settled and strong. The exception is shallow snowpack areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs likely exist on a variety of aspects, including fresh wind slabs formed by outflow winds and lingering wind slabs from last week's storm.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 20th, 2017 2:00PM