Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 18th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
JMackenzie,
Avalanche Canada
Highly variable wind slab conditions at upper elevations. Be cautious as you transition into wind prone areas. Solar input will become a factor over the next couple of days.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure dominates the area for the next few days. Daytime highs should reach around -6 with cool mornings. Wednesday will be mostly sunny with light NW winds. Thursday and Friday look much the same.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed today. A few recent cornice failures were observed, but these did not trigger avalanches on the slopes below.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow amounts of 15 to 20cm are slowly settling. Despite mainly sunny skies the surface snow stayed dry today, even on steep solar aspects. Highly variable wind effect in the Alpine with soft snow in some areas and significant wind slab formation in others.
Terrain and Travel
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
- Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
- Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent highly variable winds have created wind slabs of varying depths on all aspects. These slabs will be sensitive to human triggering primarily in steep unsupported and/or convex terrain. Shallow snowpack areas may also be more problematic for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
This is the classic "low probability, high consequence" problem. While unlikely to trigger, if this basal layer does fail, a large destructive avalanche is the likely result.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 19th, 2020 4:00PM
