Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 22nd, 2016 8:11AM

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

Parks Canada percy woods, Parks Canada

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=22782&oPark=100205Keep in mind touchy windslab on alpine lee features, widespread storm slab and the Feb 10th persistent weak layer today

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with isolated flurries today and moderate west winds at ridge crest.  The freezing level will come up to 1300m this afternoon.  The sun may make an appearance but should be short lived. The first kiss of solar yesterday and slopes became sensitive quickly.  Keep this in mind if the sun should appear this afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Mod to strong S winds Friday night formed windslab on N'ly aspects. New snow will now veil the wind slab. Expect the wind slab to still be sensitive to human triggering. Storm slabs may be touchy given the right terrain feature. The Feb 10 persistent weak layer is down 60-100cm and may still be overloaded by other slides.

Avalanche Summary

Skier triggered size 1.5 on Little Sifton col yesterday. The skier was involved but uninjured. The slide was 25cm deep, 50m wide and ran 70m. Size 2 natural avalanche off Little Sifton peak and another size 2 natural observed off the E aspect of Abbot's ridge. Numerous size 1.5-2 avalanches in the highway corridor on mainly solar aspects yesterday.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Touchy windslab in the immediate lee of ridgelines and crossloaded features. formed by Friday night's strong S winds.  Sunday's skier triggered slide on Sifton col is a good example.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Storm slabs may be sensitive to human triggering given the right terrain feature.  Steep planar slopes should be investigated before jumping in. Avoid unsupported or convex terrain.
If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
Feb 10 interface lingers and may become reactive given prolonged sun or added load such as cornice fall or slab avalanche. 

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 23rd, 2016 8:00AM