Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 4th, 2020 10:27AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
Kate Ryan,
Parks Canada
Reactive pockets of windslab exist in the alpine and exposed treeline.
Assess before committing to your run.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A benign weather day. Tomorrow, a Pacific low will work to push out the Arctic air.
Today: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Treeline temp -13 C. Light SW winds
Tonight: Trace of precipitation. Treeline temp steady at -13 C. Light SW winds
Wednesday: 6cm snow. Freezing levels rising to 1200m, treeline temp -6C. Light SW ridge winds gusting 70km/h
Snowpack Summary
We received 20-30cm of low density snow in the wake of Saturdays storm. This sits on firm surfaces resulting from the Extreme winds, 70mm of precip, and 2000m freezing level mid storm. Expect rugged travel in all but smooth open slopes below treeline, with 10-15cm of snow on a crust. Pockets of windslab exist in lees at treeline and in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Loose dry point releases to size 1.5 were observed yesterday from steep, rocky, solar terrain features.
During Saturday's storm, numerous size 3-3.5 avalanches were triggered both naturally and by artillery from all aspects.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh pockets of soft windslab that formed late in the storm linger on lee slopes. The deep and stiff widespread windslab that formed mid storm is generally unreactive, but may remain sensitive to large triggers like cornices in the alpine.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices grew significantly Saturday and deserve a wide berth. Stay well back from corniced ridges.
- Minimize exposure to corniced features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 5th, 2020 8:00AM
