Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 14th, 2021 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Mike Smallwood,
The wind changed direction in some drainages yesterday. Watch for windslabs in unusual places
Summary
Weather Forecast
Staying cold for today with a high of -14. The wind is forecast to be light from the SW, be aware of increasing winds if they occur. A low pressure system will move across the province over the next few days with increasing cloud cover and flurries of snow beginning tomorrow. Tuesday winds will pick up to moderate from the W.
Snowpack Summary
The cold has weakened cornices and the upper snowpack. Widespread wind effect in the alpine has made for variable travel. The January weak interface down 70-100 is reducing in strength with facetting due to the cold. The mid and lower snowpack are still relatively strong having rounded under previous mild temperatures and snow load.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous skier triggered and natural windslabs were observed from both lee and crossloaded features over the last few days to sz 2.5.
A group of skiers had a close call Wednesday on the South face of Corbin Peak, triggering a couple of large avalanches on the Jan 24th persistent weak layer.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Mod-strong winds yesterday came from different directions in different drainages yesterday. Look for signs of the recent local wind direction. Features can be crossloaded where terrain is bowled or gullied containing multiple aspects.
- Use caution on steep lee and cross-loaded slopes
- Be careful with reverse loaded pockets of wind slab at ridgeline.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The January 24th weak interface may be triggerable on solar aspects, where facets and/or surface hoar is sitting on a suncrust.
The bond at this interface may be weakening with facets having grown under recent cold temperatures
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 15th, 2021 8:00AM
