Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 24th, 2022 4:00PM

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

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Enjoy the warming temperatures but keep the wind slabs in mind! Good riding conditions exist in sheltered areas on facetted snow surfaces.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The next few days will become progressively warmer with increasing winds and intermittent flurries by the end of the weekend. Friday and Saturday will be mainly sunny and dry, temperature highs ranging from -13 to -6, light alpine winds switching from northerly to south westerly. Expect moderate SW winds and snow accumulations up to 5cm on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effect, wind slabs and scoured surfaces exist in many alpine and tree-line elevations. Sheltered areas have a soft, facetted surface. The Jan 30th surface hoar/sun crust layer is variable in distribution and reactivity, but is generally 40-60 cm down and producing hard to no results in snowpack tests.

Avalanche Summary

A remote cornice failure triggered a size 3 avalanche in Kootenay National Park on Wednesday. On Thursday, the local ski areas reported a few small wind slab avalanches up to size 1 with explosives control.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs exist in the alpine and some tree line locations. They are sitting on a variety of surfaces including old wind effect, surface hoar, sun crusts and facets.

  • Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 25th, 2022 4:00PM

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