Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 25th, 2012 9:22AM

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

mpeter, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with easing northerly winds and temperatures reaching -8. Monday & Tuesday: Expect clear weather to give way to increasing clouds with flurries beginning Tuesday. Winds could be strong southwesterly, but will ease with the cloud growth. Temperatures reaching -7 in the afternoons.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches up to size 2.0 and ridder triggered up to 1.5 have been observed.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15cm of new snow fell in the most recent storm pulse. This adds to the previous storm snow, with 45 cm being an average amount over the mid February layers. These layers are a strong melt freeze crust at lower elevations and wind effected snow higher in the alpine while between these elevations, the interface varies wildly from facets, surface hoar, sun crust or wind press. The surface hoar is not widespread but is responsible for much of the recent avalanche activity. With the additional wind loading, pockets as deep as 60cm are possible on lee features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Increasing winds and new snow through have formed wind slabs on lee slopes and terrain features. Expect to see more widespread loading due to changing winds.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Persistent Slabs

The mild temperatures has consolidated the new snow into a storm slab over the persistent weaknesses.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Feb 26th, 2012 8:00AM