Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 12th, 2021 3:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada jmacpherson, Avalanche Canada

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Still cool out there, keep shorter days in the plan. Continued surface faceting from the cold weather, slufffing in stepper terrain big enough to push a skier around or into a terrain trap. Winds are increasing so continuous evaluation of snow over the Jan 29 interface. 

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

The cold weather should be moving out over the next few days, looks to be some cooler nights but better day time temperatures, today day was a slight inversion and felt reasonable in the sun. Winds will be between 30-40km/hr from the East, mix of sun and cloud as the warmer air mixes in. 

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry in steep terrain. Up to size 1.5

Snowpack Summary

Surface Faceting making it easy to get pretty good sluffs going in steeper terrain, entraining some mass. 60cm of settled snow overlying the Jan 29 wind slab interface. Take the time to dig and evaluate this interface as there is still variability with it, as well check for crusts on the south facing slopes. Wind effect in the alpine and our usual concerns for lee features and cross loaded gullies.

EAST SIDE OF SPRAY LAKES ROAD: There is significantly less snow on this side. The ski quality was good but not great coverage. the Nov. crust will be a problem, in the shallower snow pack. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

This covers the wind slabs in the alpine and a thinner more reactive layer at treeline and below.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 13th, 2021 3:00PM

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