Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 18th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Marcus Waring,
Increasing SW wind continues to build wind slabs with variable reactivity. Use caution as you transition in to wind effected terrain.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine high -2. Moderate SW wind with strong gusts.
Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine high of -4. Moderate to strong SW wind.
Sunday: 15-30cm of snow with freezing levels rising to 1600m through the storm. Moderate SW wind with gusts up to 120km/h.
Snowpack Summary
Southwest winds have returned building wind slabs which sit over a layer of facets. Facet layer has developed over a variety of hard surfaces including old wind slab and a deteriorating melt freeze crust below 1900m. Mid snowpack has become faceted, especially in shallow areas east of Cameron Lake.
Avalanche Summary
Ski cut's produced size 1 loose dry avalanches in steep sheltered terrain and size 1 wind slabs in on lee slopes.
No new natural avalanche activity observed.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may propagate farther then expected due to underlying facet layer and will remain the primary concern until the warm storm arrives on Sunday.
- Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created slabs over weaker snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 21st, 2021 4:00PM
