Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2020 8:06AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.

Parks Canada jonas hoke, Parks Canada

Slopes with previous heavy skier traffic or avalanche activity may not be as reactive on the February 22nd PWL. Don't get lured into larger terrain just because you ski cut a few small slopes and nothing happened.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak ridge of high pressure will give sunny periods and isolated flurries today. Treeline temps will reach a high of of -10 C and ridge wind will remain light from the West.

A system hitting the South Coast later this afternoon will bring strong wind, snow and rising temps to the area early this week. We could see up to 40cm by Wednesday morning.

Snowpack Summary

20cm of new snow came with strong SW winds yesterday and overloaded the February 22nd Persistent Weak Layer in many locations. This PWL is now buried 60+cm, and consists of 3-7mm surface hoar on all aspects up to 2450m and a crust on solar aspects. No other layers are currently active in the mid and lower snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control Saturday morning produced numerous large to very large avalanches (up to size 3.5) in the highway corridor.

Several natural avalanches occurred Friday night. Large avalanches (up to size 3) ran to valley bottom.

Numerous reports of skiers triggering small-large persistent slab avalanches (on the February 22nd layer) this week.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Surface hoar buried on February 22nd is now a persistent weak layer down 60+cm.  The surface hoar overlies a thick crust on solar aspects. This layer was active yesterday and remains susceptible to human triggering.

  • Minimize exposure to steep, planar slopes.
  • Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

20+cm in the last 48hrs has formed fresh storm slab. The storm slab, where triggered, may step down to the Feb 22nd surface hoar layer.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created fresh slabs.
  • 934

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2020 8:00AM