Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 4th, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.
stephen holeczi,
Avalanche Canada
Current forecasts are showing 15-20cm Saturday night through Monday. Ice climbers should be cautious approaching routes and climbing in gully terrain if snow amounts and valley winds materialize.
Summary
Weather Forecast
15-25 cm of snow is expected Saturday night through to Monday with an upslope component. There is still uncertainty with amounts. Mainly light to moderate East winds and the possibility of a "Yoho blow" which means increased valley winds. -15C as the high tomorrow and into the -20's for Monday.
Snowpack Summary
10-15cm over the last 24 hours. This sits on previous hard surfaces from winds last weekend. A generally weak snowpack exists below 2000m. At 2000m there is about 150cm with the Jan 17 surface hoar layer down 40cm. In the mid-pack, the Dec facets are around 20cm thick. Deeper snowpack areas closer to the Wapta have a much more solid snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported in the last 24 hours.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The generally weak, facetted mid pack is producing moderate to hard shears. In the upper snowpack around treeline a buried layer of surface hoar produces variable shears. Current slab development will make triggering these layers more likely.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
Currently small in size, watch locally for their formation and the bed surface below. This can be facets, wind layers, surface hoar, or sun crust. As there is an easterly component, if there are increased winds watch for reverse loading.
- Keep an eye out for reverse loading created by an upslope storm.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 5th, 2017 4:00PM
