Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2015 9:18AM

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

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

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Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Scattered cloud, no significant precipitation. Light variable winds at all elevations. Friday: Broken cloud, 0 to 2 cm of snow possible. Light variable winds at all elevations. Saturday: Few clouds, no significant precipitation. Light N winds at treeline, moderate N/NW winds at ridgetop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported recently.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 15cm of old storm snow rests upon a thick supportive crust that extends up to around 2200m before changing to a firm wind pressed surface at higher elevations. Winds were out of the NE over the weekend switching to the NW and most recently SW. You may be able to find thin old wind slabs at upper elevations as a result. Below 2200m the crust is effectively capping the snowpack, keeping riders from interacting with deeper weak layers that exist in the snowpack. Two layers of surface hoar can be found down between 50 and 80cm. Recent snow pack test indicate that these layers are unlikely to fail but could propagate widely if they do. At upper elevations where these layers are not protected by the surface crust it may still be possible to trigger an avalanche from a thin or rocky spot. The mid-December crust is becoming harder to find but where it does exist (mainly at treeline elevations) it is over a meter down.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds over the last few days have been out of the NE, NW and most recently SW. Watch for thin wind slabs in alpine features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Highmark or enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

While unlikely to be human triggered in most places, it's important to be aware that there are still deeply buried weak layers in the snowpack. Cornice fall, significant warming or the right load in a thin spot or a could activate this problem.

Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. >Be aware of thin areas and rock outcroppings where it may be possible to initiate an avalanche that fails on one of the deeply buried weak layers.>Conditions are greatly improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2015 2:00PM