Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Feb 29 – Mar 1, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

East winds will blow on Tuesday.  Watch out for reverse loaded lee features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Stiff wind slabs may be found in the lee of exposed features in the alpine and treelike.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–6
    A couple of persistent and deep persistent weak layers remain a low probability high consequence concern. Large avalanches could be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as a cornice release or smaller avalanche.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–5

Confidence

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: partly cloudy, moderate easterly winds, 1200m freezing level. WEDNESDAY: flurries, light southerly winds, 1200m freezing level. THURSDAY: light snow starting overnight, light westerly winds, freezing level 1000m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Light snows and moderate winds may have created fresh isolated pockets of wind slab in the alpine and at treeline. Moist snow can be found on the surface at lower elevations. In general the upper snow pack is reported to be bonding well to a crust buried in early February, now 40 to 80cm down that extends up to around 2000m. The early January surface hoar can typically be found between 60 and 140cm down. Although it is getting harder to trigger in most places this layer remains a concern, especially in the north and east of the region. Shallow snowpack areas also have a weak base layer of facetted snow just above the ground.

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