Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 2nd, 2015 7:17AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

South Columbia.

Northerly winds and periods of convective flurries have created windslabs in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Cold and clear overnight with moderate northerly winds and freezing down to valley bottoms. Cold and clear on Tuesday with alpine temperatures around -15. Cold and clear on Wednesday with moderate northwest winds in the alpine. Thursday is forecast to be cloudy with a westerly flow and a chance of light precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

There is quite a bit of variability across the region in regards to new snow amounts. The surface is also variable with everything from dry new snow, loose facetted snow, windslabs, to sun crusts. There is 5-30 cm of facetted new snow and surface hoar above the mid-February crust. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer (up to 100 cm deep) and the mid-January surface hoar (80-120 cm deep) are generally dormant, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased. However, triggering may be possible with a large input such as cornice fall, or an avalanche stepping down, especially on slopes that see a lot of sun.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Northerly winds and new snow have combined to create isolated pockets of windslab in the alpine. New windslabs may be sitting on a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2015 2:00PM