Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 24th, 2013 9:46AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable weather conditions

Weather Forecast

Sunday night and Monday: In the south of the region -Heavy snowfall becoming moderate on Monday  In the north of the region - Moderate snowfall becoming light on Monday / Moderate to strong west winds becoming light northwesterly on Monday / Freezing level at 1000mTuesday: Light snowfall / Light to moderate south winds / Freezing level at 900mWednesday: Light snowfall (Moderate in the south) / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1000m

Avalanche Summary

Size 2.5 natural cornice falls triggered slabs on north and southeast alpine features in the Duffey area.  In the same part of the region a size 1 and a size 2 skier-triggered avalanche were reported having failed on the February 12th surface hoar. For more information, go to our Incident Report database.Avalanche activity is expected to ramp up again with weather forecast for Sunday night.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate snowfall in the north and locally heavy snowfall on the Coquihalla has been redistributed into wind slabs at treeline and above and may overlie weak surface hoar buried on February 20th. Where it exists, the surface hoar will likely prolong the reactivity of the recently developed storm slab.On shaded slopes up to 50cm of snow may overlie surface hoar which was buried on February 12th. Most reports of this layer are coming from the Duffey Lake area where observations include whumfing and easy, sudden planar test results. On solar aspects and at lower elevations recent accumulations overlie a melt freeze crust.The mid and lower snowpack pack layers are generally well settled.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Snowfall and winds late Sunday will add to ongoing storm/ wind slab conditions. Triggering avalanches will most likely in wind-loaded terrain, or in more sheltered areas where weak and reactive buried surface hoar exists.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Feb 25th, 2013 2:00PM