Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2012 9:00AM

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

mpeter, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Monday: A mostly sunny day, with moderate northerly winds and temperatures reaching -5. Tuesday & Wednesday: Expect clouds to build, with light snow developing late Tuesday and tapering into Wednesday afternoon. Winds should turn southerly but remain light with temperatures reaching -5 in the afternoons.

Avalanche Summary

We have reports of isolated explosive triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 in the Duffey area and natural releases up to size 2.0 throughout the entire region. Rider triggering to size 1.5 persists.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow totals in the Duffey Lakes is 15-25cm while in the Coquihalla summit area it's 30-40cm. In both areas, this overlies a previous 40cm. This most recent interface is yielding easy results and the new storm snow is reactive to rider traffic. The southerly winds have lee loaded open treeline and alpine terrain that faces north through east. The mid February interface (down roughly 60cm) includes crusts at lower elevations, surface hoar in protected areas and hard windslabs in the alpine. Below this the lower snowpack is well bonded and strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Changing winds have created more widespread windslabbing.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Persistent Slabs

Storm slabs linger and remain reactive where they exist in combination with buried surface hoar.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2012 8:00AM