Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 27th, 2014 8:22AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Don’t let your guard down! The deeply buried weak layer may continue to be well preserved on shaded aspects. More info in the new blog post!

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Friday: The alpine inversion along the coast is expected to end overnight. We should see below freezing temperatures at all elevations during the day with Easterly winds in the alpine and strong Northeast outflow winds near the coast. Mostly clear with a chance of high thin cloud during the day.Saturday: Clear and cold with strong Northeast winds and alpine temperatures around -17. Very strong outflow winds near the coast.Sunday: Clear and cold with strong Easterly winds and alpine temperatures around -20.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity reported.

Snowpack Summary

Clear skies and cold temperatures combined with moderate Easterly or Northeasterly winds have developed new wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline. 35-90 cm of settled storm snow overlies a variety of old surfaces including weak facets, surface hoar (more predominant at tree line and below tree line elevations), a scoured crust, wind pressed snow, or any combination of these. Whumpfing, cracking, and reports from the field indicate a very poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces. Recent snowpack tests give easy or moderate "pops or drops" shears on this persistent weakness and show potential for wide propagation. A lack of activity on this layer is likely because the overlying snow has not settled into a slab due to the recent cold temperatures.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Forecast strong Northeast outflow winds may create new wind slabs in areas that still snow available for transport.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Continued cold temperatures are expected to preserve the buried February weak layer of facets and crusts. Avalanche fractures may propagate further as the old storm snow above the weak layers settles into a cohesive slab.

Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.>Use conservative route selection, stick to moderate angled terrain with low consequence.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Feb 28th, 2014 2:00PM