Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 14th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
cgarritty,
Avalanche Canada
New snow and wind has reactivated our wind slab problem at higher elevations. Seek out sheltered areas holding low density snow for the best and safest skiing and riding.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
Friday night: Mainly cloudy with continuing isolated flurries and trace of new snow. Moderate west or southwest winds
Saturday: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing a trace to 5 cm of new snow, increasing overnight. Moderate southwest winds, becoming strong at ridgetop. Alpine high temperatures around -8.
Sunday: Cloudy with easing flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow, 15-25 cm including overnight accumulations. Light west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -8.
Monday: Mainly sunny. Light west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -9.
Avalanche Summary
Slightly enhanced snowfall over Thursday night brought more active avalanche conditions to the region on Friday. Initial reports show several natural and explosives triggerd storm slabs reached size 2, with crown fracture depths of 20-40 cm, showing some evidence of wind loading. Northeast aspects above 1900 metres featured most prominently.
New avalanche observations from Tuesday were limited to a few small (size 1) wind slabs able to be skier triggered in crossloaded gully features. Observations into the alpine were limited by poor visibility. Wednesday's reports showed a transition to small dry loose releases.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of new snow accumulated in the region over Thursday night, mainly burying wind-affected snow and old wind slabs in exposed terrain while adding to older, settled storm snow in sheltered areas. Collectively 25-50 cm of snow now overlies a thick rain crust that exists up to roughly 2100 m. In many areas this capping crust extends to mountaintops.Â
The bottom 20 cm of the snowpack consists of basal facets and decomposing crusts that have not been an active avalanche problem since December, but could reemerge as a problem after sustained warming.
Terrain and Travel
- Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
- Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
Problems
Wind Slabs
A bit of new snow has supplied forecast winds with the building blocks of a fresh wind slab problem. Consistently elevated winds should maintain slab formation throughout the day on Saturday. Expect this problem to increase with elevation and be especially pronounced in the immediate lee of exposed terrain features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 15th, 2020 5:00PM
