Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 22nd, 2022 3:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada JMackenzie, Avalanche Canada

Lots of great skiing to be found, but be mindful of sensitive wind slabs as you transition into wind effected snow at upper elevations.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will start off clear and cold (-35 in the morning), but slowly cloud over with very light flurries and -15 by the afternoon. Winds will be light to moderate from the NW.

Thursday looks like a mix of sun and cloud with milder temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry avalanches in very steep Alpine and Treeline terrain on all aspects, mainly size 1.0, but occasionally up to size 1.5. A few wind slabs up to size 2.0 were also observed in steep Alpine bowl features on E, S and SE aspects. These slabs are failing on the buried sun crust and range from 30 to 50cm thick.

Snowpack Summary

A couple more cm's overnight brings the recent storm snow total tp between 30 and 40cm at treeline. This storm snow sits on the Feb 19th interface which is sun crust on steep solar aspects, and hard wind slab pretty much everywhere else. So far the storm snow is remaining low density (great skiing!) until you get above 2400m. Above this elevation wind slabs are found in lee and cross-loaded terrain, especially along ridgelines. It is also worth noting that wind directions have recently been highly variable, so some reverse wind loading has occurred.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Watch for wind slabs on all aspects due to variable winds. These slabs are sitting on either a crust or a hard wind layer, and may be sensitive to human triggering in steep and unsupported terrain. Generally found above 2400m, but be alert for isolated wind slabs at lower elevations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 23rd, 2022 3:00PM

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