Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 17th, 2019 4:00PM
The alpine rating is Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeWatch for new windslabs in alpine lee areas and loose dry avalanches in steep terrain. Ski quality is currently excellent.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Valley temperatures will vary between -5 and -20 for the next 3 days. Clear skies are expected on Monday with light North wind. A slight increase in cloud and wind (up to moderate west) is expected on Tuesday. Overall, minimal weather inputs that will impact the danger rating.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 50 cm of snow has fallen since Feb 2. This has been affected by variable winds, isolated periods of solar radiation and most notably, sustained cold temperatures promoting faceting. Down 30 to 75cm, Jan 17 surface hoar produces sudden planar shears in isolated locations treeline an below. A weak basal snowpack exists in shallow areas.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose dry avalanches and wind slabs up to size 2 were observed today on a flight from Banff to the Wapta Icefields. The wind slabs appeared to bit between 10 and 20cm thick. Additionally, a skier triggered avalanche was reported on the MIN near Paget Glades today, no injury or lost gear reported.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and some light North wind have created new soft windslabs in the last 24 hours. As of today these slabs were not producing anything larger than a size 2.
Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Variable winds may create pockets of wind slab in some unexpected locations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
A sustained period of cold weather has driven the faceting process in the upper snowpack creating weak, dry surface snow. In steep terrain, these are sensitive to small natural and human triggers and can quickly gain enough mass to affect travelers.
Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Good group management is essential to manage current conditions safely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 18th, 2019 4:00PM