Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 27th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
Aaron Beardmore,
Increased wind will create fresh wind slabs on Sunday. Expect wind slabs that sit on top of weak facets to be more reactive. Dig down to confirm and be on the look out for wind slabs that are buried.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Sunday will see a slight warming trend. Small amounts of snow are expected. Wind is expected to pick up into the strong range from the W-SW for Sun and Mon. All of these weather factors will increase wind slab development.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 30cm of storm snow since Friday. Snow and wind have created wind slabs in alpine lee areas and exposed treeline slopes. In thin snowpack areas 30-60 cm of snow sits over weak facet interfaces which fail more easily in tests. In deeper snowpack areas there was less facetting, and the recent storm snow is bonding better.
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise ski patrol triggered a size 2 wind slab avalanche that stepped down to the Jan 27 facet layer which produced a fracture line that was 80 to 120cm deep. Also, at Serac in Kootenay, an ACMG guide reported a size 2.5 loose dry avalanche triggered by a cornice. Limited details, but it reportedly kicked up a substantial powder cloud.
Confidence
Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Sunday
Problems
Wind Slabs
A significant increase in wind on Sunday will continue to create wind slabs in the alpine and exposed treeline lee areas. Places where wind slabs sit over a weak facet interface are still a concern. Dig down to confirm this.
- Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created slabs over weaker snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Significant sluffing in steep terrain in areas that received more snow late last week. Increased wind will add to the problem on Sunday. Watch your exposure to steep terrain traps and gully features.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
- On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 28th, 2021 4:00PM
