Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 25th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
SH,
Avalanche Canada
The danger has risen due to 15-35cm of new snow and strong winds. Winds will die off on Monday, and the natural cycle should taper. Conditions will remain ripe for human triggering.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
There have been plenty of reports over the past 24 hours of natural and skier and climber triggered avalanches to size 2.5. This includes a partial burial of 2 people on Mt. Whymper's North side.
A natural cornice fall in the Southside chutes (out of bounds) triggered a slab on the February 3rd crust (size 2.5). Otherwise, the ski hills reported smaller avalanches (sz. 1) with explosives within the new snow.
Snowpack Summary
15-35cm HST and strong winds have formed widespread slab formation at treeline and above, and storm slabs below treeline. 25-50cm+ overlies the Feb 3 crust and facets, which is 0.5-15cm thick and exists up to 2500m (higher on solar aspects). In shallower snowpack areas, weak facet layers can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. Snowpack depths are low this year, with about 80-120cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Monday - trace amounts of snow in the East and up to 5cm along the divide. Winds will be light from the NE, switching to SW in the PM. A cooling trend will start.
Tuesday - Trace amounts of snow, a mix of sun and cloud, and light West winds with temperatures of -15 to -20C in the AM
Wednesday - 5cm of snow as another system approaches with a warming trend and moderate SW winds
For more information, see AvCan's Mt Wx.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for signs of slab formation throughout the day.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Expect to find storm slabs in alpine and treeline terrain, and possibly below treeline. These slabs generally overlie faceted snow and/or a crust, and are primed for triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Weak facet layers exist in the mid-pack as well as at the bottom of the snowpack. Sporadic avalanche activity continues on these layers mainly in thin snowpack, rocky, and steep locations, and with increased load, these may become more reactive. Use extra caution when the Feb 3 crust becomes thin.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Winds are forecast to diminish on Monday, but some sluffing of the new snow in unsupported terrain and gullies should be expected in the short term.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 26th, 2024 4:00PM
