Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2017 4:52PM

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

Avalanche Canada shorton, Avalanche Canada

Watch for fresh wind slabs at higher elevations and remember to stick to good travel habits while enjoying the new snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Continued light flurries with another 4-8 cm of new snow, light southwest winds, alpine temperatures around -15 C.TUESDAY: Isolated flurries with 2-4 cm of new snow, light west winds with moderate gusts, alpine temperatures around -15 C.WEDNESDAY: 5-10 cm of new snow, moderate west winds, alpine temperatures around -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, small avalanches in the new snow were reported including natural and skier triggered size 1 wind slabs. A few size 2 natural avalanches were also reported in alpine terrain, potentially releasing on the mid-February interface 30-40 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

Flurries delivered another 5-15 cm of low density snow on Saturday night, bring recent totals to 20-40 cm (with the largest amounts in the Monashees). A pulse of moderate winds from a variety of directions formed fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. The the mid-February interface is now buried 30-50 cm deep, and is composed of a thick rain crust up to about 1800 m, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on shaded aspects. This layer could develop into a persistent slab problem once the snow above it settles into a stiffer slab. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Watch for wind slabs in the immediate lee of ridges and crossloaded alpine terrain.
Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2017 2:00PM

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