Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 20th, 2019 8:00AM

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

mark herbison, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Great conditions considering the lack of recent snow. Cold temps are promoting snow surface faceting, which is maintaining ski quality.Pockets of wind slab and loose dry avalanches are the main concern, especially in steep exposed terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Sun with periods of cloud for the day with a small chance of convective flurries this afternoon. Remaining cool with an alpine high of -11 and light NE ridge top winds. More of the same until the weekend when a weak low pressure systems arrives bringing a meager 5-10cm.

Snowpack Summary

5cm in the past 24hrs brings the weekly total to 20cm which covers old wind slabs in the alpine and exposed areas of tree line. In sheltered areas at tree line and below the storm snow is covering surface hoar and near surface facets. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural avalanches up to size 2 from Mt. Tupper and Mt. MacDonald yesterday along the highway corridor. Reports of numerous loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5 on solar aspects up the Connaught drainage and a size 2.5 cornice failure from Cheops North 5. Wind slab, soft slab and loose dry snow is still susceptible to human triggering.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Pockets of reactive wind slab still exist in the alpine and open areas at tree line, though becoming hard to find. But remember, even a small wind slab can have big consequences in the right/wrong terrain feature (steep, rocky, exposed terrain, etc).

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Variable winds have created pockets of wind slab on all aspects.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

20cm of recent snow covers facets and surface hoar. The snow is bonding poorly and easily sluffing in steep terrain. Be cautious of being hit or triggering these loose avalanches while in gullies, chutes and exposed steep rocky terrain.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 21st, 2019 8:00AM