Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 13th, 2016 8:00AM

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

andrew jones, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Use extra caution in wind loaded areas where slabs may easily be triggered.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with isolated flurries and trace amounts of precipitation today. Alpine high of -4 with freezing levels remaining below 1500m. Several fronts move through the region this week. Moderate Southerly winds gust to strong as an approaching front arrives later this evening. Expect 5cm tonight and 8cm tomorrow as the first system comes and goes.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm of new snow with moderate southerly winds has created a surface instability. At lower elevations expect moist snow from rain. Wind slabs are prevalent on most aspects in the alpine and tree-line and may be concealed by new snow. Below these slabs, a crust exists on solar aspects. The Jan 4th persistent weak layer is down 90-130.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed in the highway corridor with limited visibility. A party in the Asulkan Valley ski cut a sz 1.5 wind slab on a NE aspect at 2000m.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

20cm of new snow and moderate to strong southerly winds have contributed to loading on lee features. The new snow has also concealed previously developed wind slabs that are easily triggered.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The Jan 4 persistent weak layer now buried around 100cm down is still sporadically failing in snowpack stability tests. If this layer awakens the result would be large and destructive.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Feb 14th, 2016 8:00AM