Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 28th, 2016 3:00PM

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

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

New snow may be hiding hard old wind slabs. Watch out for lee features even if there aren't obvious signs of fresh wind loading.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: flurries overnight clearing to become mainly sunny, light to moderate westerly winds, 1000m freezing level. TUESDAY: partly cloudy, moderate westerly winds, 1200m freezing level. WEDNESDAY: mainly sunny, light southerly winds, 1200m freezing level.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate winds have created fresh wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline, and grown cornices at ridgeline. The recent snow may sit above a crust on sunny aspects or surface hoar in isolated shady locations. A more widespread crust may be found just below the surface at lower elevations. In general the upper snow pack is reported to be bonding well to a crust buried in early February, now 40 to 80cm down, that extends up to around 2000m. The early January surface hoar can typically be found between 60 and 140cm down. Although it is getting harder to trigger in most places this layer remains a concern, especially in the north and east of the region. Shallow snowpack areas also have a weak base layer of facetted snow just above the ground.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may be found in the lee of exposed features in the alpine and treeline.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation. >Travel on ridges and ribs to avoid wind loaded areas. >Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

A couple of persistent and deep persistent weak layers remain a low probability high consequence concern. Large avalanches can be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as a cornice release or smaller avalanche.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, widely propagating avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.>Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Feb 29th, 2016 2:00PM