Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 21st, 2017 4:16PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
Current conditions are some of the most dangerous for backcountry travelers. Natural avalanches are unlikely; thus the problem is not obvious - but human triggered avalanches are likely, and happening daily. Keep a wide margin of safety . . .
Summary
Weather Forecast
Temperatures falling overnight to reach -15 by Wednesday with highs around -10. Possibility of up to 10 cm of new snow on Wednesday, but this looks to be in eastern areas only. Return to sunny skies for Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
No new snow last 24-hr, but 25cm recent storm snow has formed isolated soft slabs near ridge crests in the alpine. Persistent problems remain with the lower half of the snowpack being weak and faceted especially in thin areas or near rocky outcrops. Cooler temperatures have helped to stabilize the snowpack below treeline but it is still very weak.
Avalanche Summary
Notable avalanches every day. A remotely triggered size 3 avalanche near Cirque peak on Sunday. On Monday, two large avalanches triggered by explosives in "the Elevator Shaft" at Lake Louise as well as a remote triggered size 2 in Kootenay Park. On Tuesday, skiers triggered a size 1.5 onto another group below in Lipalian 3 at Lake Louise.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A thick slab of more recent snow sits over several weak facet interfaces in the mid and lower snow pack where ever the snowpack is thin. Dig down to see if these facets are present and if so choose conservative terrain features.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Thin wind slabs are present in the alpine due to the fresh snow. There are also buried wind slabs that are becoming less reactive but should still be on your radar. Probe to find them, especially near ridge crests and in cross loaded areas.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 22nd, 2017 4:00PM
