Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 29th, 2016 7:46AM

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

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

East winds will blow on Tuesday. Watch out for reverse loaded lee features.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: partly cloudy, moderate easterly winds, 1200m freezing level. WEDNESDAY: flurries, light southerly winds, 1200m freezing level. THURSDAY: light snow starting overnight, light westerly winds, freezing level 1000m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Light snows and moderate winds may have created fresh isolated pockets of wind slab in the alpine and at treeline. Moist snow can be found on the surface at lower elevations. In general the upper snow pack is reported to be bonding well to a crust buried in early February, now 40 to 80cm down that extends up to around 2000m. The early January surface hoar can typically be found between 60 and 140cm down. Although it is getting harder to trigger in most places this layer remains a concern, especially in the north and east of the region. Shallow snowpack areas also have a weak base layer of facetted snow just above the ground.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Stiff wind slabs may be found in the lee of exposed features in the alpine and treelike.

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.>Travel on ridges and ribs to avoid wind loaded areas. >Be alert to conditions that change with elevation. >

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

A couple of persistent and deep persistent weak layers remain a low probability high consequence concern. Large avalanches could be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as a cornice release or smaller avalanche.

Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.>Be aware of the potential for large, widely propagating avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Deep Persistent Slabs

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 1st, 2016 2:00PM