Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 25th, 2015–Feb 26th, 2015

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

Green doesn't necessarily mean go. During periods of intense sun avalanche danger may be higher on steep solar aspects. Consider your exposure to cornices as you choose your objectives, they become weaker when the sun is beating down on them.

Weather Forecast

Today will be mostly sunny with a high of -4'C and light to moderate westerly winds. On Thursday there will be increasing cloud, as a weak system passes through the province. We may see a trace of new snow. On Friday we will see a mix of sun and cloud as the ridge of high pressure rebuilds.

Snowpack Summary

Below 1900m a few cm's of snow sits on a hard crust. 15-20cm of snow sit on the Feb 18 surface hoar layer, which exists up to 2200m. The Feb 14 crust is down 20-25 and is up to 10cm thick. Variable wind effect, with pockets of thin hard slab, exists in exposed areas at treeline and above. Persistent weak layers down 1-1.5m are stubborn to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Recent natural avalanches have been primarily solar triggered. Strong solar has triggered loose wet avalanches, or caused cornices to fail sometimes triggering deep slabs. Small pockets of windslab have been triggered by skiers, which is primarily a concern on exposed slopes where the consequences are high (ie steep faces or over cliffs).

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

There are several weak layers in the snowpack that are now difficult to trigger but result in very large avalanches when they do fail. Strong solar radiation or a large cornice failure are possible triggers.

Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.Conditions are greatly improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 3 - 4