Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 13th, 2017 3:35PM

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

mgrist, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Avoid steep sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day. Don't let your guard down with warm temperatures and sunny skies.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Change is coming on Tuesday evening and then wet on Wednesday into Thursday. TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with wet snow or rain beginning in the evening / High temperatures to +6 Celsius / Moderate southwesterly winds / Freezing level around 2600 m. WEDNESDAY: Rain (50-80mm) or wet snow / Moderate southerly winds / Freezing level around 2100m. THURSDAY: Wet flurries changing to snow (15-25cm) / Moderate southwesterly winds / Freezing level around 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new observed.

Snowpack Summary

40-80 cm of storm snow fell last week with moderate to strong southerly winds - this formed variable wind slabs on northerly aspects. Inverted temperatures (warmer at higher elevations) made the slab problem worse and created layers that are still giving sudden results down 30, 40, and 60cms in snowpack tests. The new snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind affected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar (up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers (down 60-80cm in shallower areas) that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading (and warming this week), especially in the aforementioned shallower, rocky areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The warming trend and strong winds from the past storm packed warmer heavy snow on-top of colder snow, making storm and wind slab avalanches much more likely.

Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Recent storm snow has formed touchy slabs.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Just because it's mild out doesn't mean you can get complacent: Avoid steep sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 14th, 2017 2:00PM