Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 2nd, 2016 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada aaron beardmore, Avalanche Canada

By definition, treeline is rated as moderate. However, be very cautious with steep open slopes and glades at treeline. Human triggering is still possible in these locations.

Summary

Weather Forecast

High cloud cover with very light to no precipitation through Thursday. The wind will pick up slightly from the west into the moderate range late on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs in alpine and treeline areas. 40-70cm of snow sits over the Jan 6 surface hoar/facet layer and remains reactive to skier triggering. Test results today on the Jan 6 layer were in the hard range. Isolated whumphing on Mt. Field today, likely on the Jan 6 layer.

Avalanche Summary

Lots of evidence of the previous widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 on all aspects with some large propagations around Mt. Field today.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Soft slabs 30 to 50cm deep exist in alpine lee areas. Although these slabs are slowly becoming more difficult to trigger, human triggering is still possible.

  • Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded features
  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

30-70 cm of snow overlies the Jan 6 layer of surface hoar and facets. Test results on this layer show it is still in the range of human triggering with potential for failures to step down into deeper layers and result in large avalanches.

  • Avoid open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Use careful route-finding and stick to moderate slope angles with low consequences

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2016 4:00PM