Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2020 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada mmueller, Avalanche Canada

Daily flurries are helping to refresh the ski quality. North facing, sheltered areas are the best bet for good turns.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Remember yesterday's weather? Well, tomorrow will be like that. Cloudy skies with flurries, daytime high of -6 and light, but gusty winds. 

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

Convective flurried continue to roll through, but accumulation is minimal given the sun peaking through the clouds. The windslabs continue to pile up on top of themselves with continued SW winds. There may be pockets of new slabs that are slow to bond, but generally they seem to be quickly settling out and staying where they are supposed to. We do have a couple of crusts to deal with on south aspects and lower elevation areas.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid convexities, steep unsupported terrain and rocky outcroppings.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

The widespread wind slabs are now hidden under 10cm of fresh low density snow. These are primarily a concern in steep, convex and unsupported terrain. Thin areas may also be trigger points. Expect to find fresh wind slabs on E through S aspects. 

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem is still difficult to trigger, but snowpack stability tests today indicate a failure in the basal facets. Any resulting avalanche will be large and destructive.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2020 4:00PM