Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 21st, 2016 6:22PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
tim haggarty,
Avalanche Canada
Continue to use caution in big terrain TL and above. Cooler temperatures have tightened things in BTL.
Summary
Weather Forecast
After a cooler day Sunday and some strong solar input, two weak fronts will reach the divide Monday bringing trace amounts of precip. Winds should remain light westerly. Overnight Monday a strong ridge will start to move into the area, skies will clear by midday Tuesday and winds shift to the North. Temps will drop but the sun will be quite strong.
Snowpack Summary
The Jan 6 layer of surface hoar/facets is gaining strength in the region and is down 120cm at treeline , producing hard to no result in tests. A layer down approx. 50cm (Feb 11) contains surface hoar in isolated locations at treeline producing moderate results. Well settled snowpack overall. Wind slabs formed in exposed alpine locations.
Avalanche Summary
2 wind slab avalanches were observed yesterday on Mt. Field at 2300-2400m. These were size 1.5 to 2 in un-skiable terrain and occurred in the last 36 hours.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
90-130 cm of snow overlies the Jan 6th layer of surface hoar, facets and sun crust. This layer is gaining strength in the region but should be watched for at treeline and above. Be aware of isolated pockets of Feb 11 SH down 40 to 60cm in the area,
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Be mindful of cross loaded features and the lees of ridges where fresh windslabs 30-60 cm thick have recently formed along with new cornice growth. If triggered, there is potential for these to step down to the persistent weak layer.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 22nd, 2016 4:00PM
