Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Lynnea Baker,

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Extreme south west winds have built fresh wind slabs in lees and stripped windward aspects down to hard crust.

With additional snow and wind forecast for the weekend we expect to see an increase in avalanche activity as slabs grow bigger.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Fri: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Moderate SW ridge top winds. Alpine temps low -4. Freezing level 1600 m.

Sat: Flurries, 6 cm accumulation. Strong SW winds. Alpine temps high -6. Freezing levels 1800m.

Sun: Flurries, 5 cm  accumulation. Light NE winds. Alpine temps high -8, low -25. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

12cm of storm has been redistributed by strong to extreme SW winds on Monday creating new wind slabs.  This overlies a crust from last weeks warm temps up to 2000m and higher on solar aspects. Well settled midpack, with facets above Dec 4 crust, buried 150-200 cm, above Nov layers.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches observed. If you go out on an adventure be sure to share your experience and snowpack information on the Mountain Information Network, we really appreciate any observations.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

12 cm of storm snow was redistributed into fresh wind slabs, 10-30 cm deep, on Thursday.

Wind slabs will continue to build through out the weekend with additional snow and wind. We expect and increase in avalanche activity as snow accumulates.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
  • Watch for pockets of windslab in steep alpine features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 20th, 2022 4:00PM