Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2016 4:10PM

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

Avalanche Canada tim haggarty, Avalanche Canada

Keep an eye on the weak layers that are still a concern in isolated areas. Dig down to evaluate these layers before trusting  the snowpack especially in sheltered areas around treeline.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Following warm temperatures and crust formation to treeline on solar aspects Friday, a cold front that will pass overnight will bring cooling, clouds, and up to 5cm of snow. While daytime freezing levels may approach 2000m Saturday, continued cooling, cloud and a bit of snow can be expected into Sunday as a second cold front reaches the divide. 

Snowpack Summary

Suncrust exists on steep S and W aspects. Otherwise, 20-30 cm of low density snow overlies a well settled mid-pack. The Feb 11 surface hoar can be found down 50-60 cm in isolated locations around treeline and produces moderate test results. The Jan 6th layer (down 80-120 cm) is gaining strength and producing hard to no results.

Avalanche Summary

Loose wet snow avalanches up to size 1.5 observed on Wednesday through Friday as a result of solar heating, otherwise no recent slab avalanches reported. Note that many recent slab avalanches were reported in the last week in the neighboring Banff, Yoho & Kootenay bulletin region.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

We are tracking 2 weak layers in the upper 120 cm of the snowpack (Jan 6 and Feb 11 surface hoar). Their strength has improved, and they are sometimes hard to find. We consider these to be healing, but dig down and look for yourself.

  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2016 4:00PM