Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 12th, 2016 8:00AM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Skiing has improved with the slowly cooling temp's. However, watch for wind slab in unsupported lee features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

5-10cm of snow are forecasted for Rogers Pass today, with light to mod SW winds and freezing levels rising to 1700m. Tonight and tomorrow will see a slight drying trend, with scattered flurries, light SW winds, and freezing levels around 1200m. Saturday night/Sunday will see 10-15cm of snow, mod SW winds, and cooler temp's..

Snowpack Summary

Soft wind slabs are prevalent on most aspects in the alpine and tree-line, with some protected areas spared from the wind. Below these slabs, a crust exists on solar aspects from the warmth earlier in the week. The Jan 4th persistent weak layer is down 90-130 and was producing sporadic sudden planar results in deep-tap tests.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous slabs from size 1.5 to 2.5 were observed in the highway corridor yesterday, the majority coming off of Mt Macdonald's steep, N-facing alpine start zones. No new activity was noted by a field team in the Connaught Creek area, though, but there was evidence of avalanches from Tuesday during the warm-up.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Widespread wind slabs were observed in the alpine and at tree-line elevations yesterday. These will be easier to trigger if sitting on the crust from Tuesday's warm-up.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The Jan 4 persistent weak layer now buried around 100cm down is still sporadically failing in snowpack stability tests. If this layer awakens the result would be large and destructive.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Feb 13th, 2016 8:00AM