Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 24th, 2021 8:00AM

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

Chris Gooliaff,

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Don't let the sun tempt you into a bigger, bolder line than you planned for.

The new snow sits on a persistent weak layer, namely crusts, facets, and hard windslab. Let this new slab have time to bond to these old surfaces.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak ridge today, followed by snow tomorrow.

Today: Cloudy with sunny periods, Alp high -12*C, light SW winds

Tonight/Thurs: Snow, 20cm, Alp high -8*C, strong SW winds

Fri: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high -9*C, light to occasional gusting strong SW winds

Snowpack Summary

The 80mm of precip earlier in the week, extreme S'ly winds, and mild temps have created a widespread persistent slab. This sits on the Feb 14 drought interface, which is a wind crust in exposed areas near Rogers Pass, and buried windslabs/facets as you move East or West. This new slab is of most concern in wind-exposed areas in the Alpine and TL.

Avalanche Summary

Natural activity has died down in the last 24hrs with the decrease in wind and temp. Only a few avalanches were detected yesterday during daylight hours.

Monday and Tues saw a torrent of large natural and artillery-controlled avalanches to sz 4, running full path out onto valley bottom fans.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

The recent snowfall sits on the Feb14 drought layer. This new snow will take time to bond to the crust/facet layer. Of most concern are areas with significant wind effect and where the slab overlies a crust (S'ly aspects).

  • Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

The tail-end of the previous storm finished with 25-30cm of cooler, low density snow. This could power-sluff in steep terrain, and it would be a real hazard if it pushes you into a terrain trap, resulting in a deep burial.

  • If triggered dry loose point releases can form deeper deposits in terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 25th, 2021 8:00AM