Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 6th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Persistent Slabs.
Mark Herbison,
Extreme winds and snow forecasted for Monday will likely keep you out of the alpine and enjoying the quality tree skiing on polar aspects.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Strong to extreme (30-85km/hr) Westerly winds forecasted for Monday as a Pacific Party front plows its way into our region, delivering another 10-15cm as it passes through. Temperatures will gradually drop with an alpine high of -6 and a freezing level of 1200m. Winds easing off slightly on Tuesday and temperatures rising again on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
On Sunday, a new sun crust formed on steep solar aspects and will be buried by the incoming snow. Wind slabs exist in some locations in the alpine and down into tree line. The Jan 29 interface (surface hoar 5-15mm in sheltered areas and sun crust on steep solar) is buried 50-80cm. The Dec 1 crust/facet combo is down 1.5-2.5m.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous sz 1-1.5 and several sz 2-2.5 point release avalanches on Sunday out of steep, rocky, sun exposed terrain. As well as a skier triggered sz 1.5 storm slab in the Pearly Rock area from a thin, rocky area.
A skier controlled size 2.0 storm slab in the Hospital Bowl area on Saturday, 20-40cm deep, 20m wide and running ~100m.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong-extreme Westerly winds and new snow forecasted for Monday will likely form fresh wind slabs in the alpine and down into tree line. Evaluate wind loaded areas carefully.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Expect loose dry avalanches in steep terrain that is sheltered from the wind. These have the potential to step down to the Jan 29 interface and gain significant mass.
- Be aware of party members below you that may be exposed to your sluffs.
- Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Jan 29th interface (surface hoar 5-15mm in sheltered areas, sun crust on steep solar) is buried up to 80cm deep and is possible to trigger on open slopes without previous avalanche activity.
- Avoid paths that have not avalanched recently.
- Convex features and steep unsupported slopes will be most prone to triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 7th, 2022 4:00PM
