Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2023 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada lbaker, Avalanche Canada

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Expect to find variable wind affected surfaces at all elevations.

Strong southwest winds continue to strip away snow, creating wind loading on north and east facing slopes.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, a few machine accidental wind slab avalanches were reported, up to size 1.5. A few small natural wind slab avalanches were also observed in the alpine.

On Friday, wind slabs were reactive to human traffic and explosive control, up to size 1 on all aspects.

Please post your field observations and photos on the Mountain Information Network. The information is beneficial to forecasters and fellow backcountry users.

Snowpack Summary

Snow continues to be redistributed by southwest winds, forming fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. Exposed slopes at treeline and above may be stripped back to hard surfaces.

A melt-freeze crust with facets above, sits 50 to 100 cm deep. This crust could be a good sliding surface for avalanche activity. We are monitoring this layer going forward as it may become a persistent problem.

In general, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation. Westerley ridgetop wind 40-60 km/h. Freezing levels drop to the valley bottom. Alpine high of -9 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Southwest ridgetop winds 20-30 km. Alpine high of -8 °C. Freezing levels 800 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 2 cm accumulation. Light southwest ridgetop winds. Alpine high of -10 °C. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light southwest ridgetop winds increase to strong through the day. Alpine high of -9 °C. Freezing levels valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Extreme southwesterly winds have formed wind slabs on north and east facing slopes. Look carefully for windslabs at all elevations on slopes lee to the southwest. Pay particular attention to wind loading mid to low on slopes, and be wary of cross-loaded features.

A melt freeze crust from mid-January has shown some reactivity, small wind slabs may step down to this layer resulting in a bigger avalanche.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2023 4:00PM